Dhaka, March 10, 2026:
Japan has announced a new humanitarian assistance package worth JPY 2.57 billion (approximately USD 16.5 million) to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, reinforcing its continued commitment to addressing one of the world’s largest refugee crises.
The funding was formalized in Dhaka between March 2 and 5 through agreements with several United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, WFP, and UNHCR. The assistance comes as nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees continue to live in Bangladesh, mainly in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, amid growing humanitarian needs and funding shortages.
Japan’s new contribution will support a range of critical services such as food assistance, health care, education, water and sanitation, shelter support, clean cooking solutions, and protection programs for women and girls. It will also fund sexual and reproductive health services, nutrition support, and livelihood initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of refugee-hosting communities.
Under the package, USD 1.4 million will go to UNICEF for child health, education, and nutrition services; USD 3.2 million to UNFPA for reproductive health and gender-based violence response; USD 2.6 million to IOM for shelter, healthcare, and livelihood support; USD 6.7 million to WFP for food assistance and nutrition services; and USD 2.6 million to UNHCR for shelter repairs, healthcare, and clean cooking sets.
Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Saida Shinichi, said the assistance aims to sustain essential services and uphold the dignity and resilience of refugees and host communities during a time of increasing humanitarian pressure.
Since the Rohingya crisis began in August 2017, Japan has contributed more than USD 250 million to humanitarian efforts in Bangladesh.
Source: Japan Embassy
