Japan, Unicef sign $5.7m assistance to Rohingya refugees, host communities

Japan government has decided to provide Unicef with $5.7 million assistance for the implementation of child protection, education and WASH interventions for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.

An Exchange of Notes was signed by Iwama Kiminori, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, and Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative to Bangladesh, according to a press release of Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh.

The project titled "The Project for Integrated Livelihood Support for Displaced Persons from Myanmar and Host Communities in Bhashan Char and Cox's Bazar District", will reach more than 58,000 Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar and Bhashan Char camps, and 10,000 people in host communities through strengthened equitable and inclusive access to formal education, equitable access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene and access to well-coordinated and gender-responsive quality child protection services.

"Rohingya refugee children need safe water, quality education, protection and other critical support. Thanks to this generous donation from the Government of Japan, Unicef can continue to deliver these essential services in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar and Bhashan Char, and to Bangladeshi host communities. The Government of Japan has consistently stepped up for Rohingya refugee children and affected host communities since the very start of this crisis. Unicef is proud of this long-standing partnership with the Government of Japan," said Sheldon.

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

"During my last visit to Cox's Bazar in January, I was impressed by the education programme to Rohingya children at the Learning Center run by Unicef. Japan will continue to work towards durable solutions including early repatriation to Myanmar, while cooperating with international organisations including Unicef for better living conditions for refugees and host communities," 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 $200 million to Unicef and other UN agencies as well as NGOs in Bangladesh, including through this new funding.