South Korea contributes 15,000 tonnes of rice for Rohingya refugees
The donation to WFP’s food assistance programme in Cox’s Bazar includes 150 tonnes of fortified rice kernels to improve nutrition.
The Republic of Korea has contributed 15,000 tonnes of rice to support food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said today (6 September).
The contribution was formally handed over at a ceremony at WFP's Sagorika Warehouse in Chattogram, jointly organised by the Bangladesh government, the South Korean Embassy and the WFP, according to a press release.
The rice, provided through South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), will be distributed among Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar under WFP's General Food Assistance programme.
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The contribution also includes 150 tonnes of fortified rice kernels containing essential vitamins and minerals. The kernels will be blended with the donated rice before it is transported to Cox's Bazar to improve the nutritional quality of food assistance, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups.
"We express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Korea for this valuable contribution," said ABM Shafiqul Haidar, additional secretary at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
He said the contribution reflected the two countries' "enduring friendship, cooperation and partnership" and their shared commitment to addressing humanitarian challenges.
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-joon said the contribution would support both food security and nutrition among vulnerable Rohingya families.
"Korea remains committed to working with the Government of Bangladesh and WFP to support the Rohingya community during this difficult time," he said.
WFP Representative and Country Director in Bangladesh Coco Ushiyama said the contribution came at a critical time as humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources.
She said the rice would help ensure continued food assistance for Rohingya families, while the fortified rice kernels would improve the nutritional value of the support provided to vulnerable refugees.
Nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh remain dependent on humanitarian assistance, with limited livelihood opportunities and no immediate prospect of a safe, voluntary and dignified return to Myanmar, according to the WFP.
The latest donation follows South Korea's previous contributions of 15,000 tonnes of rice in 2024 and 20,265 tonnes in 2025 for the Rohingya response.
The WFP said South Korea and the organisation have worked together for more than six decades. In 2025, MAFRA provided 150,000 tonnes of rice to support WFP operations in 17 countries, including Bangladesh.
As the Rohingya crisis enters its 10th year, the WFP stressed that sustained international support remains critical to maintaining food and nutrition assistance for refugees and supporting Bangladesh and host communities that have been sheltering the Rohingya population for nearly a decade.
