UN calls on donors to step forward with more support for Rohingyas | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
July 22, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025
UN calls on donors to step forward with more support for Rohingyas

Foreign Policy

UNB
02 June, 2025, 08:00 pm
Last modified: 03 June, 2025, 01:56 pm

Related News

  • 150,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in 18 months: UN
  • ADB to provide $86m for infrastructure, Rohingyas, host Bangladeshis
  • UN chief urges 'maximum restraint' after Israel strikes Iran
  • UN to vote on resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire, hostage release and aid access
  • Israel commits 'extermination' in Gaza by killing in schools, UN experts say

UN calls on donors to step forward with more support for Rohingyas

Heavy monsoon rains highlight critical needs of Rohingya refugees

UNB
02 June, 2025, 08:00 pm
Last modified: 03 June, 2025, 01:56 pm
USAID is the leading contributor to the Rohingya crisis response in Bangladesh, with nearly $2.4 billion in assistance since 2017. Photo: Reuters
USAID is the leading contributor to the Rohingya crisis response in Bangladesh, with nearly $2.4 billion in assistance since 2017. Photo: Reuters

The United Nations (UN) today (2 June) urgently called on donors to step forward and contribute generously to ensure that the vulnerable communities in Cox's Bazar – Rohingyas and host communities - receive the support they desperately need.

"As we reach the mid-year point, the Joint Response Plan remains critically underfunded at less than 20%," said UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis from Cox's Bazar camps, adding that they will prioritise, but they cannot abandon the Rohingya refugees in their time of need.

In 2025, humanitarian agencies have appealed for $934 million to support nearly 1.48 million people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshis in neighbouring communities.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi host communities alike live in an area highly susceptible to flooding, landslides, cyclones and other weather shocks," said the UNRC, noting that preparing for these disasters is not just essential, it is lifesaving.

Monsoon preparedness usually starts before May, but partners could not take these measures because of the shortfall.

Torrential rains marking the start of the monsoon season hit the crowded refugee camps this weekend, damaging thousands of Rohingya shelters.

In just two days, some 53 landslides were reported across the 33 camps, damaging over 1,400 homes in combination with floods and strong winds. Tragically, one refugee was killed as a wall collapsed, while lightning strikes reportedly injured eleven.

"Steep slopes, floods and makeshift shelters make a dangerous mix in such a densely populated place, while strong winds risk further weakening shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulin," said Juliette Murekeyisoni, interim UNHCR representative.

"Refugee volunteers have been helping families in affected areas to relocate to safer locations and communal facilities," she added. "But we need more space for shelters."

Communal spaces are being used to temporarily host affected families. However, even before the monsoon, there was not enough space to provide shelters to all — especially as thousands of newly arrived Rohingya have sought asylum here in recent months, fleeing targeted violence and persecution in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Many have been housed by relatives, who now struggle to keep their crowded homes dry.

With the monsoon season running from end of May through August, humanitarian partners have been working proactively to mitigate the risk, including pre-positioning humanitarian supplies such as tarpaulins and rope to secure them, sleeping mats, water purification tablets and jerrycans.

Refugee volunteers trained in first aid or search and rescue stand ready to assist with evacuations, distributing relief items, and referring those in need of care.

However, a critical funding shortfall threatens the ability of humanitarian actors to meet urgent needs and fully implement the required preparatory actions, said the UNHCR.

Meanwhile, the education of around 230,000 Rohingya refugee children is under threat due to an acute and deepening funding crisis, Unicef warned this week.

Without immediate and sustained financial aid, support across all areas for the refugees is at risk, including critical foundational learning opportunities for children in the world's largest refugee settlement could be lost.

In recent months, Unicef has faced a significant decline in humanitarian funding for its operations in the Rohingya refugee response, affecting the education of 83 per cent of school-age children in the camps, who are enrolled in Unicef-supported learning centres.

Despite exhaustive efforts to attract new resources and reprioritise activities, funding gaps have forced UNICEF to take painful decisions, including suspending support for host community volunteer teachers working with Kindergarten to Grade 2 learners.

A total of 1,179 host community volunteer teachers will see their contracts ended with Unicef´s implementing partners by 30 June.

"The children we are speaking about are among the most vulnerable in the world," said Rana Flowers, Unicef representative in Bangladesh.

"We are doing everything possible to sustain critical education services, and Unicef has been able to attract some other funding – but unfortunately there will be a delay in receiving this and thus Unicef is forced to close learning facilities temporarily. Without urgent funding, the learning facilities may remain closed, and an entire generation of Rohingya children risks being left behind."

Due to the lack of funding, learning facilities will remain closed until at least the end of June 2025, in line with an extended Eid holiday period. Reopening beyond that will depend entirely on the availability of new funds.

Early grade learners (Kindergarten to Grade 2) will no longer be taught English, science or social studies in the next academic year. Only core foundational subjects — literacy (Rohingya), Burmese, mathematics, life skills and socio-emotional learning — will be prioritised.

No new textbooks or teacher guides will be procured for the 2025–2026 academic year. Children will be asked to reuse materials from previous years, regardless of their condition.

End-of-year assessments and placement tests have been cancelled. Volunteer teachers will not receive paid holidays and may only continue teaching on a voluntary basis until funding is restored.

Bangladesh / Top News

United Nations / Rohingyas

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus holds meeting with leaders of four major political parties
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Secretariat protest: 75 injured in police-protester clash over edu adviser's resignation for delaying HSC rescheduling
  • Bangladesh win nail-biter to clinch series win 
    Bangladesh win nail-biter to clinch series win 

MOST VIEWED

  • Training aircraft crashes at the Diabari campus of Milestone College on 21 July 2025. Photo: Courtesy
    BAF jet crash at Milestone school: At least 20 including children, pilot dead; 171 hospitalised
  • Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam. Photo: Collected
    Pilot tried to avoid disaster by steering crashing jet away from populated area: ISPR
  • An idle luxury: Built at a cost of Tk450 crore, this rest house near Parki Beach in Anwara upazila has stood unused for six months. Perched on the southern bank of the Karnaphuli, the facility now awaits a private lease as the Bridge Division seeks to put it to use. Photo: Md Minhaz Uddin
    Karnaphuli Tunnel’s service area holds tourism promises, but tall order ahead
  • Bangladesh declares one-day state mourning following plane crash on school campus
    Bangladesh declares one-day state mourning following plane crash on school campus
  • 91-day treasury bills rate falls 1.13 percentage points to 10.45% in a week
    91-day treasury bills rate falls 1.13 percentage points to 10.45% in a week
  • Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft crashes at Milestone College in Uttara
    Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft crashes at Milestone College in Uttara

Related News

  • 150,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in 18 months: UN
  • ADB to provide $86m for infrastructure, Rohingyas, host Bangladeshis
  • UN chief urges 'maximum restraint' after Israel strikes Iran
  • UN to vote on resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire, hostage release and aid access
  • Israel commits 'extermination' in Gaza by killing in schools, UN experts say

Features

Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Milestone plane crash: Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help

6h | Panorama
Photo: TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

17m | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

22h | Panorama
Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Ghagra: Where dreams rise from dust for Bangladesh women's football

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Which other party participated in the meeting with the Chief Advisor?

Which other party participated in the meeting with the Chief Advisor?

37m | TBS Today
Milestone Tragedy: Why the different views on the need for blood?

Milestone Tragedy: Why the different views on the need for blood?

1h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 22 JULY 2025

News of The Day, 22 JULY 2025

2h | TBS News of the day
US can avoid competition with China?

US can avoid competition with China?

2h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net