Bangladesh, Ukraine and Sweden hand over 3,000MT sunflower oil for Rohingya support

The Government of Bangladesh, the Embassy of Ukraine, the Embassy of Sweden, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on 3 December held a handover ceremony for 3,000 metric tonnes of sunflower oil contributed through the Grain from Ukraine initiative. The contribution will support the Rohingya response led by the Government with assistance from WFP and other humanitarian partners.

The Grain from Ukraine (GfU) initiative is a humanitarian food programme launched by the Government of Ukraine in 2022, aimed at making Ukrainian food commodities available for WFP's crisis responses with support from the international community. The sunflower oil destined for the Rohingya camps was produced in Ukraine, while procurement and transportation costs amounting to USD 7 million were covered by the Government of Sweden.

The ceremony took place at WFP's Modhurchara Logistics Hub in Ukhiya upazila, Cox's Bazar, and was attended by Md Mostafizur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR); Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC); A K M Mohiuddin Kayes, Director of the South Asia Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA); H.E. Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine; H.E. Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden; and Simone Parchment, WFP Bangladesh Country Director, ad interim. H.E. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, Ambassador of France, also attended, as France is among the donors supporting the initiative.

"I express my sincere appreciation to Sweden and Ukraine for this critical contribution," said Md Mostafizur Rahman, Secretary, MoDMR. "Your support is deeply meaningful for the Rohingya response. It will significantly strengthen food assistance for the Rohingya population and reflects a partnership built on humanity, compassion and shared global responsibility."

"This event underscores a shared humanitarian conviction – one that unites Ukraine, Sweden, France, WFP and the Government of Bangladesh in supporting communities who have endured immense hardship," said Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, RRRC.

"Today's donation is not only a timely humanitarian gesture but also a genuine expression of friendship and solidarity towards the Rohingya," said A K M Mohiuddin Kayes, Director, South Asia Wing, MoFA.

Following the ceremony, the delegates visited a WFP food distribution outlet, where the sunflower oil and other commodities are distributed through WFP's e-voucher system. With a full monthly entitlement of USD 12 per person, families can choose their preferred items at any of the 19 e-voucher outlets in the camps. In addition to staple foods, beneficiaries can access fresh food, including seasonal vegetables, fish and poultry sourced from local markets, including those supplied by smallholder farmers in host communities in Cox's Bazar.

"I thank Sweden and other partners for supporting the Grain from Ukraine initiative and express my admiration to the Government of Bangladesh for its leadership in addressing the humanitarian needs of the Rohingya community," said H.E. Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine. "I also commend WFP and all humanitarian actors for their critical work. The food assistance we saw is an exemplary programme that meets not only basic needs but also respects dignity."

"Together, we must keep the world's attention on the Rohingya crisis and ensure continued support," said H.E. Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden. "This partnership demonstrates that solidarity is not an idea – it is action. Through that action, the Grain from Ukraine initiative strengthens food security for Rohingya refugees, supports Ukrainian farmers whose livelihoods are under threat, and helps stabilise global food supply chains."

"The unwavering commitments of Ukraine to humanitarian needs around the world, along with Sweden's generous support, are a powerful testament to global solidarity," said Simone Parchment, WFP Bangladesh Country Director, ad interim. "Let this contribution inspire others to step forward – because together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and bring hope to vulnerable communities in the Rohingya camps and beyond."

Now in its ninth year, the Rohingya response faces severe challenges, including a sharp decline in funding. To meet the basic needs of nearly 1.2 million people in 2026, WFP's Rohingya operation faces a USD 172 million funding gap for its lifesaving food and nutrition assistance. Without new funding, food rations will experience major disruptions from April 2026.