EU extends €14m support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

The European Union (EU) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Thursday announced a renewed partnership with an additional €14 million grant to sustain life-saving assistance and strengthen protection for 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, according to a press release.

The funding will support Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar and nearly 70,000 members of the Bangladeshi host community. It will complement existing EU humanitarian assistance and an earlier multi-year development contribution, helping to enhance resilience and self-reliance through skills development programmes and access to clean cooking fuel.

Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, said the EU remained committed to supporting both the Rohingya refugees and the communities hosting them.

"As needs remain protracted, we need to transform the response," he said, adding that the new funding will expand educational opportunities, support skills development and improve living conditions for refugees while benefiting host communities in Cox's Bazar.

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He said the initiative aimed to preserve dignity, strengthen resilience and equip refugees with practical skills to help them rebuild their lives and prepare for a voluntary, safe and dignified return to Myanmar when conditions permit.

UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Ivo Freijsen welcomed the contribution, saying reliable and sustained support remained essential for refugee families who had endured years of hardship.

"We are grateful to the European Union for standing with the Rohingya in Bangladesh, ensuring that refugees can access vital protection services, meet their basic needs and maintain hope for a safer and more dignified future," he said.

According to UNHCR, overcrowded camp conditions, limited resources and prolonged displacement continue to leave refugees highly vulnerable. Comprehensive protection services, including safe shelters, well-lit camp environments, community-based protection mechanisms and accessible reporting channels, remain critical to safeguarding refugees' rights and dignity.

The agency said such support is particularly important for women and children, who face heightened risks of gender-based violence, trafficking and exploitation.

The programme will also continue the provision of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), reducing refugees' dependence on firewood collection, lowering health risks from household smoke and easing pressure on surrounding forests.

UNHCR said expanding livelihood opportunities and skills training was essential to reducing aid dependency and restoring a sense of purpose among refugees.

The announcement comes ahead of World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, which honours people forced to flee their homes because of violence and persecution and recognises the contributions of host communities.

UNHCR is implementing the initiative in partnership with the Bangladesh government, humanitarian agencies and donors under the 2025-2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

The plan seeks US$710 million this year to address the most urgent needs of 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, including new arrivals, and support their dignified living conditions until they can voluntarily return to Myanmar in safety and with full rights.