The Government of Japan has contributed USD 6.7 million to the United Nations World Food Programme to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The funding aims to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, and enhance the wellbeing of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. Japan emphasized its continued commitment to assisting Rohingya refugees while also supporting Bangladeshi communities that host them and face challenges related to climate change and limited market access.
With this contribution, the World Food Programme will provide lifesaving food assistance to Rohingya refugees through monthly food vouchers that allow families to purchase essential items such as rice, lentils, oil, vegetables, and protein-rich foods from designated outlets. The funding will also support nutrition services for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under the age of five, including specialized nutrition products, growth monitoring, nutrition education, and treatment for malnutrition.
In addition to humanitarian assistance, the funding will help strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in host communities. The programme will support the establishment and improvement of agricultural aggregation centres that collect and consolidate local produce, helping farmers access markets and humanitarian supply chains more effectively. These centres will enable the supply of fresh vegetables, eggs, and rice to Rohingya families while also increasing income opportunities for local farmers.
The funding will also support the repair of agricultural infrastructure damaged by floods and cyclones in host communities. Improvements such as cold storage and modern food processing facilities will help preserve food quality, reduce waste, and increase the value of locally produced agricultural goods. These measures are designed to support sustainable food systems while benefiting both refugees and local communities.
Humanitarian needs in Cox’s Bazar remain extremely high as the refugee population continues to grow. Since early 2024, nearly 150,000 additional Rohingya have fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, bringing the total number of refugees in the area to around 1.2 million. At the same time, the humanitarian response is facing serious financial challenges, with a funding gap that could disrupt food and nutrition services for refugees if additional support is not secured.
Japan has been a long-standing supporter of the Rohingya humanitarian response since the crisis began in 2017. With this latest contribution, Japan’s total support to the response through the World Food Programme and other partners has exceeded USD 260 million, reflecting its continued commitment to assisting vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
