$50m WB grant for Rohingya healthcare

Bangladesh yesterday signed a $50 million grant financing agreement with World Bank (WB) to improve its health, nutrition and family planning services for Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar.

This additional financing for an existing Health Sector Support Project will enable delivery of essential reproductive, maternal, neonatal, infant, child and adolescent health, nutrition and psychosocial services, says a WB statement.

The financing will strengthen healthcare services within the camps alongside in Cox's Bazar District Hospital, upazila health complexes and other select government facilities in Ukhia and Teknaf.

It will also support services for victims of gender-based violence through “women friendly centres” within the camps.

“Nearly 1 million Rohingyas live in congested camps, including the Kutupalong one, the world's largest,” said Qimiao Fan, WB country director for Bangladesh.

“They face risks of disease outbreaks and suffer from high rates of child malnutrition,” he said.

Of the $50 million financing, the WB will provide $41.67 million as a grant through the IDA 18 Regional Sub-window for Refugees and Host Communities with an additional $8.33 million as a grant from Canada.

This WB financing instrument for refugees and host communities means that for every dollar contributed by Canada, five additional grant dollars will be unlocked for a total of $50 million in new financing, according to the statement.

The agreement was signed by Kazi Shofiqul Azam, senior secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Fan on behalf of the respective sides at the ERD office.