UN, partners seek $710m for Rohingyas

UN and its partners, in close coordination with Bangladesh government, yesterday appealed for $710.5 million to meet the most critical needs of Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, as well as local host communities.

The call was made at the launch of 2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingyas at the UN House in the capital amid growing global instability and rising humanitarian pressures that have threatened essential services for vulnerable populations.

“As resources become more limited, it is more important than ever to help refugees build skills and resilience, so that they can gain independence, hold on to hope, and rebuild their lives,” said Kelly T Clements, deputy high commissioner of UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

“Until the Rohingyas can return home in safety and can rebuild their communities there, we must continue to provide safety, care, and dignity where they are,” she said.

Nearly a decade after fleeing targeted violence and persecution in Myanmar, around 1.2 million refugees now reside in Bangladesh.

Needs continue to rise as conflict in Myanmar forces more people to flee. Since early 2024, around 150,000 Rohingyas have newly arrived, straining resources.

The 2026 JRP will reach up to 1.56 million people, including refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.

The $710.5 million appeal -- 26% lower than in 2025 -- covers only the minimum required to sustain lifesaving assistance.

It includes $247.3 million for food, $128 million for shelter, $61.2 million for water, sanitation, and hygiene, $52.7 million for education, $49.9 million for health, and $35.1 million for livelihoods and skills development.

It also includes $36.2 million, across all sectors, in support for host communities affected by the crisis.

From 2017 to the end of 2025, the international community has contributed nearly $5.42 billion in humanitarian funding to the Rohingya response -- with the US remaining the largest donor.

However, significant humanitarian needs persist and, without continued international solidarity, Rohingya families risk losing precious gains, the UN says.

“Bangladesh has shown extraordinary generosity in hosting this highly vulnerable population, and we are deeply grateful to our donors who have continued to stay the course. Their sustained support remains a lifeline for refugees,” said Rania Dagash-Kamara, assistant executive director for partnerships and innovation at the UN World Food Programme.

“The needs of Rohingya refugees, especially women and girls, remain immense, and the impact of funding cuts is already being felt across every aspect of daily life in the camps,” said Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, deputy executive director for normative support, UN system coordination, and programme results.

“Within the broader challenges of displacement, women and girls face even more risks and barriers that require sustained attention.”

Rohingya refugees remain largely reliant on aid. Limited economic opportunities and reduced assistance continue to heavily impact Rohingya households.

The UNHRC said as conflict inside Rakhine state continues, hopes for an imminent return to Myanmar are fading. As conditions worsen, more refugees resort to desperate choices, including dangerous and often deadly sea journeys.