South Korea donates USD 3 million for Rohingya

Press Release :

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the generous contribu on of USD 3 million from the Republic of Korea through the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis.

This mely contribu on will strengthen UNHCR’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and protec on for the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char.

“As the humanitarian response for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is approaching the seven-year mark, the sustained support of the Republic of Korea to UNHCR’s ac vi es in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char remains invaluable,” said Soo-Jin Rhee, UNHCR Deputy Representa ve in Bangladesh.

“This contribu on notably supports the distribu on of liquefied petroleum gas, a cleaner cooking energy to Rohingya refugees, and will also advance disability inclusion and strengthen community-based protec on efforts protec ng the most vulnerable refugees as well as bolstering the resilience of the refugee communi es,” she added.

“The contribu on of USD 3 million from the Republic of Korea, the largest funding to UNHCR since 2017, will enhance the implementa on of UNHCR’s humanitarian response under the Joint Response Plan 2024,” said H.E. Park Young-sik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea.

“This year’s humanitarian assistance from the Republic of Korea for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has greatly increased. The total funding of USD 10 million and the first dona on of 15,000 metric tons of rice, the biggest amount throughout the period of humanitarian assistance, demonstrates our firm and con nued commitment to providing humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh,” he added.

Since spearheading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribu on in 2018 as an alterna ve to cooking with firewood collected from forests, UNHCR has, with the support of donors and partners, helped reverse environmental degrada on in and around the camps, while contribu ng to refugees’ food security, nutri on, and health. LPG usage also decreases protec on threats on refugee women and girls, and frees up me for children to a end school. Korea’s contribu on will also support the assistance for refugees with disability, including with rehabilita on and assis ve devices, and mental health and psychosocial support.

On Bhasan Char, it will ensure the con nued provision of community-based protec on through running of community centers, provision of lifesaving informa on, facilita on of community-led projects, and suppor ng refugee communi es.

Seven years into the Rohingya refugee crisis, Bangladesh is home to nearly one million Rohingya refugees, living in the densely populated camps of Cox’s Bazar, and some 35,000 individuals residing on the island of Bhasan Char.