UK announces £3 million in humanitarian support for Rohingyas

UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Philip Barton has announced that UK will provide £3,000,000 (around Tk 42 crore) of new funding to support Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.

UK will provide the fund through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he said.

Sir Barton is visiting Bangladesh for the fifth Bangladesh-UK Strategic Dialogue.

Building on the UK and Bangladesh's historic links, the Strategic Dialogue reflects the two countries' shared commitment to develop a modern economic, trade and security partnership.

Sir Barton said, "I am pleased to announce a further UK contribution of £3,000,000 to UNHCR, which will help to ensure refugees in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char are able to access healthcare, clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, and cooking fuel."

Six years since the atrocities of 2017, which forced Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, the UK continues to stand with the Rohingyas, Bangladesh, and all those affected by this crisis, he said.

"We continue to push for a long-term solution that will enable the refugees to return to Myanmar on a safe, voluntary and dignified basis, when the conditions there allow. Until that time, the UK is committed to supporting the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh," he said.

Since 2017, UK has provided £365 million (over Tk 5,000 crore) to support the Rohingyas and Bangladeshi host communities.

This has included food, shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare and protection services.