The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) have signed a $2.5 million agreement to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar.
The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Eng Ahmed bin Ali Al-Baiz, KSrelief assistant supervisor general for operations and programs, and Othman Belbeisi, IOM regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
The project aims to improve safe, dignified and sustainable WASH services by upgrading critical infrastructure in IOM-supported areas.
Planned activities include upgrading solar-powered water supply networks, constructing and improving decentralized wastewater treatment systems, enhancing faecal sludge collection and transfer networks, and rehabilitating latrines and bathing facilities.
The initiative will also distribute water containers, colour-coded waste bins and hygiene management kits, while strengthening community engagement and providing targeted training to promote local ownership of WASH services.
"This agreement reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's continued commitment, through KSrelief, to supporting humanitarian responses with practical and sustainable solutions," said Al-Baiz.
"By strengthening essential water and sanitation infrastructure and introducing environmentally effective waste management, the project will help protect public health and improve daily living conditions in the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar," he added.
According to IOM, the agreement comes at a time when the Rohingya response is facing severe funding shortages, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding and limited space for sanitation facilities, increasing public health and protection risks.
Belbeisi said KSrelief's support would enable IOM to maintain essential services while investing in safer, more efficient and sustainable systems.
"This partnership moves beyond short-term assistance by improving durable WASH infrastructure and introducing innovative solutions," he said.
The project builds on an earlier phase funded by the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), linking emergency hygiene support with long-term improvements to WASH infrastructure and service delivery.
KSrelief and IOM have maintained a long-standing partnership, supporting humanitarian response, recovery and resilience-building efforts in multiple crisis settings worldwide.
