The Government of Japan and Unicef on Tuesday signed a new agreement to provide life-saving support to Rohingya refugee children and their families in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Under the agreement, Japan will provide $1.4 million in assistance, which is expected to benefit more than 56,500 refugees, including over 36,000 children. The funding will support critical services in education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition and health.
The Rohingya crisis, now in its ninth year, remains one of the world’s largest and most protracted humanitarian situations. Overcrowded living conditions, disease outbreaks, malnutrition and limited access to learning spaces continue to put children at risk.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and Unicef Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers confirmed the new contribution. They said the support reflects Japan’s longstanding partnership with Unicef spanning more than 70 years, as well as its commitment to human security and universal health coverage.
Ambassador Saida said the assistance would help improve living conditions for Rohingya refugees and host communities alike.
“I am pleased to announce Japan's new agreement with Unicef, especially amid declining global funding. This aid focuses on critical services like education, WASH, nutrition and health,” he said, adding that Japan remains committed to supporting vulnerable populations.
Rana Flowers said Rohingya children continue to face multiple risks in the camps, including disease, malnutrition and disrupted education.
“The support from the Government of Japan will help keep children healthy and in learning, promote skills development, and give families the tools to care for their youngest children,” she said.
As part of the initiative, Unicef will expand access to the Myanmar curriculum on Bhasan Char and support formal education and skills training for adolescents in Cox’s Bazar.
The partnership will also strengthen water supply and sanitation facilities to help reduce outbreaks of cholera, dengue and other diseases. Hygiene supplies, including soap and menstrual hygiene materials, will be distributed to households.
In line with Japan’s advocacy for universal health coverage, the programme will scale up services to prevent and treat child malnutrition and improve maternal and newborn healthcare, including services at the Newborn Stabilization Unit on Bhasan Char and primary health centres in Cox’s Bazar.
Since the start of the Rohingya emergency in August 2017, Japan has contributed over $250 million to UN agencies and NGOs in Bangladesh for the refugee response, including around $47 million through Unicef to support Rohingya children and families.
