Staff Correspondent

The Government of Japan has decided to provide the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with USD 2.7 million assistance for the implementation of WASH, health and nutrition interventions for the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char Island.

An Exchange of Notes to this respect was signed by IWAMA Kiminori, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, and Emma Brigham, Officer-in-Charge, UNICEF Bangladesh.

The project, titled ‘The Project for Multiple Humanitarian Assistance for Displaced Persons from Myanmar in Cox’s Bazar District and Bhasan Char’, will reach more than 176,000 Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char camps‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬, focusing on an integrated and multisectoral humanitarian response for the Rohingya Refugees and host communities by providing access to education, WASH, Health and Nutrition services while ensuring social and behavioural changes among the beneficiaries in Bhasan Char and Cox’s Bazar District.

“It is critical to ensure that Rohingya children have the same rights as children everywhere. Without education, refugee children have no hope for a better future. Further, lack of safe water and sanitation services expose children to disease, putting their lives at risk and threatening their chance of survival,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.

"We thank the Government and the people of Japan for their generous contribution to the vulnerable Rohingya community in Bangladesh. With this invaluable contribution, we will be able to scale up our interventions, save lives, and give Rohingya children and their families a lifeline,” added Yett.

Ambassador IWAMA expressed his hope that the support from Government of Japan would improve living conditions of both Rohingya and host communities.

“I am concerned that, as the Rohingya crisis has been prolonged, the situation of the children is becoming even more difficult. Japan will continue to work towards durable solutions including early repatriation to Myanmar, while cooperating with international organizations including UNICEF for better living conditions for refugees and host communities. I hope the funding from Japan will contribute to easing the challenges faced by the Rohingya refugees and host communities, especially children.” he said.

Since the beginning of the emergency in August 2017, Japan has been a steadfast supporter of the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, contributing over USD $220 million to UNICEF and other UN agencies as well as NGOs in Bangladesh, including through this new funding.