Dhaka, 5 March 2026:
The Government of Japan has pledged USD 2.6 million in fresh assistance to support Rohingya refugees living in camps in Cox’s Bazar, reinforcing humanitarian efforts led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
An Exchange of Notes formalizing the grant was signed by Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, and Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh.
The funding will support shelter repair materials, primary healthcare services, and clean cooking sets for Rohingya families living in one of the world’s most densely populated refugee settlements. Around 1.18 million stateless Rohingya refugees, who fled persecution and violence in Myanmar, continue to depend heavily on humanitarian assistance nearly nine years after their displacement.
According to UNHCR, the grant will provide essential shelter repair materials for approximately 3,300 households and train 300 Rohingya shelter volunteers to support maintenance and disaster preparedness in the camps, which are highly vulnerable to heavy rains, strong winds, and drought.
The funding will also strengthen health services through primary healthcare centres and health posts, while engaging 162 Rohingya refugees as community health workers, promoting self-reliance and community participation.
Freijsen said Japan’s continued support is crucial at a time when global humanitarian funding is shrinking. “Steep reductions in aid threaten lifesaving programmes and risk reversing important progress,” he noted.
The grant will further distribute clean cooking stove sets to 32,000 households, complementing UNHCR’s liquefied petroleum gas programme and reducing firewood use, which helps protect the environment and improve safety for women and children.
Since 2017, Japan has contributed more than USD 260 million to support the Rohingya response through UN agencies and Bangladeshi partners.
Source: Japan Embassy, Dhaka
