In a significant move, the United Kingdom has pledged an extra £5.2 million (approximately 73.2 crore taka) to bolster humanitarian efforts for Rohingya refugees residing in Bangladesh. This announcement came during the inauguration of the 2024 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya situation in Bangladesh, held in Geneva.

The British High Commission in Dhaka, on March 14, 2024, disclosed that this fresh influx of aid would be channeled through the World Food Programme (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The funds are earmarked for providing essential food supplies and cooking gas to the Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar, one of the largest refugee settlements in the world.

Sarah Cooke, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, expressed her satisfaction over the new aid package, emphasizing the UK’s commitment to addressing the humanitarian needs of the Rohingya refugees and the surrounding Bangladeshi host communities. She highlighted the importance of supporting Bangladesh in its commendable efforts to shelter the Rohingya population and reiterated the UK’s dedication to seeking a durable resolution to the crisis.

The breakdown of the new aid package includes £2.8 million allocated to the WFP for food distribution among over 311,600 refugees and £2.4 million assigned to the IOM and UNHCR for supplying cooking gas to approximately 489,800 individuals.

Since 2017, the UK’s total humanitarian contribution to the Rohingya crisis and the affected local communities in Bangladesh has reached a substantial £379 million, showcasing a steadfast commitment to humanitarian support in the region.