Japan pledges $16.5 million in March to support Rohingya refugees, host communities in Bangladesh
Since the Rohingya crisis began in August 2017, Japan has been one of the most consistent supporters of the humanitarian response in Bangladesh, contributing over $250 million to UN agencies and NGOs.
The Government of Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi host communities by signing and exchanging notes for five new grant assistance projects with UN agencies, totaling JPY 2.57 billion ($6.5 million). The agreements were formalised in Dhaka between 2 and 5 March 2026 through partnerships with UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, WFP, and UNHCR.
The new aid package arrives at a critical time as nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees continue to live in Bangladesh under increasingly difficult conditions, while humanitarian funding faces severe pressure. Japan's latest contribution aims to sustain life-saving services, strengthen resilience, and uphold human dignity in one of the world's largest and most protracted humanitarian crises.
Through the five projects, Japan will support a wide range of priorities in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, including food assistance, nutrition, health services, sexual and reproductive health, protection of women and girls, education, water and sanitation, shelter materials, clean cooking solutions, healthcare, livelihoods, and climate resilience initiatives for host community farmers. The assistance will benefit both Rohingya refugees and vulnerable Bangladeshi communities hosting them.
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The breakdown of the aid package is as follows:
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$1.4 million to UNICEF to support children's health, education, WASH, and nutrition.
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$3.2 million to UNFPA for sexual and reproductive health services, gender-based violence response, and adolescent support.
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$2.6 million to IOM for shelter, health, LPG distribution, site management, and livelihoods.
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$6.7 million to WFP for food assistance, nutrition services, and resilience support for host community farmers.
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$2.6 million to UNHCR for shelter repair materials, primary healthcare, and clean cooking sets.
Japan's assistance also seeks to promote self-reliance among refugees through education, livelihoods, and community capacity development while strengthening the resilience of refugee-hosting communities.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Saida Shinichi said, "Japan remains firmly committed to supporting Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi host communities that have shown remarkable generosity in the face of a protracted humanitarian crisis. Through these five new partnerships with UN agencies, Japan is delivering timely and practical support to protect lives, dignity, and resilience. We hope this assistance will help sustain essential services at a time of growing humanitarian need and shrinking global resources."
Since the Rohingya crisis began in August 2017, Japan has been one of the most consistent supporters of the humanitarian response in Bangladesh, contributing over $250 million to UN agencies and NGOs. The new package underscores Japan's determination to remain a reliable partner for Bangladesh and those affected by the crisis.
Japan also emphasised that supporting the Rohingya response is essential for maintaining stability, social cohesion, and resilience in refugee-hosting areas and for broader regional stability in Asia. Japan will continue to collaborate closely with the Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, and the international community to work toward a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
