Australia pledges A$25.25m to sustain Rohingya refugee assistance in Bangladesh

Australia has pledged A$25.25 million in multi-year funding to UNHCR to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, as global aid financing faces growing pressure.

The Australian government and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced the contribution today in the presence of Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Australian Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill.

The funding, part of Australia's humanitarian assistance for 2026–28, will support protection activities, skills development programmes and disaster risk reduction measures for refugees living in fragile and disaster-prone areas.

The contribution comes as global humanitarian funding uncertainty threatens essential services for one of the world's most vulnerable refugee populations.

"Australia continues to respond to the most significant humanitarian crises in our region, making the region safer, more stable and resilient," Julian Hill said.

"Australia remains committed to supporting the humanitarian needs of Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Displaced Rohingya want to return home, but the conditions in Myanmar need to be in place for their voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return.

"These conditions can only be met by addressing the root cause of the crisis in Myanmar," he added.

UNHCR Representative a.i. in Bangladesh Juliette Murekeyisoni said the Rohingya crisis risked fading from global attention nearly nine years after the mass displacement began, as new emergencies emerged elsewhere.

"Australia's continued support sends a strong message that the Rohingya people have not been forgotten," she said.

"Every refugee I speak to expresses the hope of returning home safely, with their rights and dignity restored. Until conditions in Myanmar allow for voluntary, safe and dignified return with full citizenship, the international community must remain steadfast in its support."

Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle said, "Australia remains committed to supporting Rohingya and their host communities in Bangladesh."

"This latest contribution of A$25.25 million to UNHCR will help provide critical services to the most vulnerable, including women, girls and people living with disabilities," she added.

Around 1.2 million Rohingya refugees remain displaced in Bangladesh, most of them in overcrowded camps near Cox's Bazar, after widespread violence and persecution forced hundreds of thousands to flee Myanmar in 2017.

Most refugees rely almost entirely on humanitarian assistance to meet their daily needs. Persistent funding shortfalls have deepened their vulnerability, sometimes pushing them towards harmful coping strategies, including dangerous sea journeys in search of better opportunities elsewhere in the region.

Recent reports indicate that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees died or went missing in 2025 while attempting perilous crossings of the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Australia's assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities will support access to protection and essential services while promoting safer and more sustainable coping strategies, according to the statement.

Funding shortages continue to disproportionately affect women and girls, people with disabilities and older people. An estimated 150,000 new arrivals have entered the camps since 2024, many of whom still lack adequate shelter and access to basic services, including clean cooking fuel.

While meeting immediate humanitarian needs remains essential, expanding access to education and skills development is also critical to building refugees' resilience and preparing them for life beyond displacement.

UNHCR said sustained international support would remain vital until durable solutions were achieved, enabling Rohingya refugees to live safely and with dignity while accessing urgently needed protection, assistance and opportunities.