The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) have signed a USD 2.5 million agreement to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The agreement was signed on 20 July 2026 in Riyadh by KSrelief Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Baiz and IOM Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Othman Belbeisi.
The project aims to enhance essential WASH services by upgrading water supply systems, improving sanitation infrastructure, strengthening wastewater treatment, and rehabilitating hygiene facilities across IOM-supported areas. It will also support better waste management, distribute essential hygiene materials, and promote community engagement through training and awareness initiatives to encourage long-term sustainability.
The initiative comes at a time when the Rohingya refugee response is facing increasing challenges due to funding shortages, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding, and limited sanitation capacity. By investing in durable WASH systems, the partnership seeks to improve public health, reduce environmental risks, and ensure continued access to safe water and sanitation services for vulnerable communities.
The new project builds on an earlier UK-funded phase that combined emergency hygiene support with long-term infrastructure improvements. It also reflects the ongoing collaboration between IOM and KSrelief, which has delivered humanitarian assistance, recovery support, and sustainable development initiatives across multiple crisis-affected regions.
This latest agreement reinforces both organizations’ commitment to improving living conditions for Rohingya refugees while strengthening resilient and sustainable WASH services in Cox’s Bazar.
