Bangladesh seeks $710m as Rohingya plan faces 37% funding gap
When all broader resilience initiatives are combined, the average funding gap climbs to a staggering 71%, raising serious alarms over declining disaster preparedness and a rapid deterioration of Rohingya camp conditions
The updated 2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh is facing a 37% funding shortfall, despite its overall financial appeal being scaled down by 26% compared to last year, officials warned.
The shrinking of international resources threatens to drastically deepen vulnerabilities among both the refugee population and local host communities.
The alarming financial data was disclosed during an event titled "Presentation of the 2026 JRP Update for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis in Bangladesh," held at the UN House in Dhaka today (20 May) jointly organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.
Additionally, a press release issued by the UN refugee agency states that the sustained international assistance remains crucial to bolstering Bangladesh's response as it continues to generously host refugees until a durable solution is achieved.
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This year, the updated JRP seeks $710.5 million to sustain support for around 1.56 million people.
This target population includes 1.2 million Rohingya refugees sheltered across Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, alongside approximately 307,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis residing in surrounding host communities.
Out of the total requested amount, a hyper-prioritised package of $610.7 million has been explicitly earmarked for the most critical life-saving and protection interventions.
Experts emphasised that the reduced appeal represents a cut of $254 million from the 2025 requirements, reflecting the absolute "bare minimum" needed to prevent an operational collapse amid constrained planning and strict cost-cutting measures.
Attending the event as chief guest, Foreign Secretary (acting) M Forhadul Islam stressed that managing the crisis is a regional and global responsibility, declaring that it is not Bangladesh's burden alone.
He noted that between 2017 and 2022, the Government of Bangladesh expended nearly $1 billion on essential services for displaced Rohingyas, covering law and order, healthcare, food infrastructure, and energy support.
He warned that without robust donor interventions, any major funding shortfall will directly cripple lifelines like food assistance, sanitation, and medical care.
"Without robust donor support, any major funding shortfall will directly affect critical humanitarian services such as food assistance, education, sanitation, healthcare and protection," he warned.
"These are not luxuries… They are lifelines."
As resources become more limited, it is more important than ever to help refugees build skills and resilience, so they can gain independence, hold on to hope, and rebuild their lives
According to the update presented, the response plan faces an immediate shortfall of $260.9 million, even after accounting for $436.9 million already received or formally committed as of early April.
While primary life-saving activities face a 21% funding gap, Priority 2 activities -- which target life preservation and the prevention of further deterioration -- are only 25% funded.
When Priority 2, Priority 3, and broader resilience initiatives are combined, the average funding gap climbs to a staggering 71%, raising serious alarms over declining disaster preparedness and a rapid deterioration of camp conditions.
The systemic underfunding follows a broader trend highlighted by speakers at the event. While the international community has contributed nearly $5.42 billion in humanitarian aid since the onset of the crisis through 2025, recent years demonstrate growing strain.
In 2025, the response received $625.7 million -- roughly 65% of its requirement -- which successfully maintained core food rations but left a 60% funding gap in critical protection and community support sectors.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore called for urgent international solidarity, pointing out that agencies are operating in a difficult global climate marked by increasing needs and diminishing resources.
"Our message today is very clear: we stand with the Government of Bangladesh, our essential partner. And we stand with the Rohingya people," she said.
Reinforcing this stance, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Ivo Freijsen warned that the humanitarian response is entering a far more fragile phase.
"Our central challenge is clear -- how to prevent further deterioration while preserving stability, protection and pathways toward durable solutions," he said.
Nearly a decade after fleeing targeted violence and persecution in Myanmar, some 1.2 million Rohingya refugees now reside in Bangladesh. Since early 2024, some 150,000 Rohingya have newly arrived, straining limited humanitarian resources and intensifying pressure on overcrowded camps.
Needs continue to rise as conflict in Myanmar forces more people to flee, states UNHCR.
"As resources become more limited, it is more important than ever to help refugees build skills and resilience, so they can gain independence, hold on to hope, and rebuild their lives," said Kelly T Clements, deputy high commissioner of UNHCR.
"Until the Rohingya can return home in safety and can rebuild their communities there, we must continue to provide safety, care, and dignity where they are. The humanitarian community is working hard to deliver this support as efficiently as possible as we continue to see resources decline. But the needs remain enormous, and efficiencies alone cannot offset the very real impacts of funding cuts on the Rohingya people and the impact on their host communities.
"Helping the refugee community become more self-reliant remains a crucial goal," he added.
The appeal followed a four-day joint high-level donor mission, led by Clements and the World Food Programme's Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation Rania Dagash-Kamara, which brought together a group of key international donor representatives.
The mission included a two-day visit to Rohingya camps and host communities in Cox's Bazar, with participation from key partners.
