ADB approves $86.7m fund for displaced people

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $58.6 million grant from the Asian Development Fund (ADF) and a $28.1 million concessional loan to improve access to essential infrastructure and services for displaced people from Myanmar and host communities in Bangladesh. The project, titled Integrated Services and Livelihood for Displaced People from Myanmar and Host Communities Improvement Project, will benefit communities in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char through enhanced water, sanitation, hygiene, roads, bridges, safety, security, drainage, food security, and disaster resilience services.

A differentiated approach will address the distinct needs of displaced people and host communities, while building government capacity for project management and implementation. The initiative includes solar-powered streetlights, upgraded fecal sludge management, biogas systems for cooking, nature-based drainage solutions, food distribution centres designed for accessibility, cyclone shelters that double as schools, mini piped water systems, a surface water treatment plant with a pipeline to Teknaf, and improved roads to boost connectivity.

ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong stated that the assistance aims to strengthen protection and resilience for displaced people while fostering social cohesion. The support builds on ADB's earlier assistance of $171.4 million since 2018 under the Emergency Assistance Project.

Over 1 million displaced people from Myanmar, predominantly women and children, reside in camps in Cox's Bazar, with more than 36,000 relocated to Bhasan Char. ADB remains committed to supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific through strategic partnerships and innovative financing.