Dhaka: Australia has announced a commitment of AUD 25.25 million in multi-year humanitarian assistance aimed at supporting Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh. This funding is expected to provide a significant boost as global humanitarian resources face increasing pressure.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the funding was revealed today by the Australian government and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). It is intended to support life-saving assistance and protection initiatives for Rohingyas in Bangladesh under Australia's 2026-2028 humanitarian programme, as highlighted in a UNHCR press release.
The announcement took place in Dhaka with the presence of Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Australia's Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill. The flexible multi-year funding will allow UNHCR and its partners to continue essential services, including protection activities, skills development programmes, and disaster risk reduction initiatives for Rohingyas in fragile and disaster-prone areas.
Assistant Minister Hill emphasized Australia's ongoing response to major humanitarian crises in the region, aiming to make the area safer, more stable, and resilient. He underscored Australia's commitment to addressing the humanitarian needs of Rohingyas in both Myanmar and Bangladesh, highlighting the necessity for conditions in Myanmar to enable the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of displaced Rohingyas.
UNHCR Representative ad interim in Bangladesh, Juliette Murekeyisoni, expressed concern that nearly nine years after the mass displacement of Rohingyas, the crisis risks being overshadowed by new global emergencies. She stressed that Australia's continued support reaffirms that the Rohingya people have not been forgotten, as they continue to hope for a return to their homeland with restored rights, dignity, and citizenship.
Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Susan Ryle, noted that the latest contribution would be crucial in providing services to the most vulnerable Rohingyas, especially women, girls, and persons with disabilities.
The statement detailed that approximately 1.2 million Rohingyas remain in Bangladesh, predominantly in overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar, having fled violence in Myanmar in 2017. Persistent funding shortages have heightened humanitarian vulnerabilities and led to dangerous coping strategies, such as irregular sea journeys. In 2025, nearly 900 Rohingyas reportedly died or went missing during perilous crossings in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
Funding shortfalls have had a particularly severe impact on women, girls, older persons, and people with disabilities, with an estimated 150,000 new arrivals entering the camps since 2024, many of whom still lack adequate shelter and access to essential services. The statement emphasized the importance of expanding access to education and skills development to strengthen Rohingyas' resilience until durable solutions are found.
The statement concluded by reiterating that sustained international solidarity is crucial to ensuring that Rohingyas continue to receive protection, humanitarian assistance, and opportunities until a lasting solution to the crisis is achieved.