Dhaka: Japan has pledged 3.4 million US dollars to The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to enhance lifesaving assistance for Rohingyas and vulnerable host communities in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this financial aid aims to address the growing humanitarian needs amid a significant decline in international funding.
Japanese Ambassador SAIDA Shinichi emphasized Japan’s commitment to ensuring the basic needs of the Rohingya population are met, and stressed the importance of supporting the most vulnerable members of the host communities, particularly women and children. He reiterated Japan’s dedication to working with WFP and other partners to avert a worsening humanitarian crisis and to facilitate a long-term solution for the safe and dignified return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
With this latest contribution, WFP plans to provide monthly food and nutrition support to over 100,000 Rohingyas and 2,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis. The aid will be distributed through e-vouchers, enabling families to purchase essential food items like rice, lentils, and fresh vegetables at designated camp outlets. Special nutrition programmes will also continue to support young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women to prevent and treat malnutrition.
The Rohingya crisis has intensified since early 2024, with nearly 150,000 more Rohingya fleeing to Cox’s Bazar camps due to escalated conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, increasing the total population to over 1.1 million. However, dwindling international support threatens to undermine critical services such as food, cooking gas, nutrition, healthcare, education, and protection.
WFP has issued a warning that unless new funding is secured-US$60 million over the next six months and US$167 million over the next year-food assistance could face significant disruptions from December 2025. Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh, expressed gratitude for Japan’s unwavering partnership and urged all partners to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the camps. He highlighted WFP’s commitment to maximizing efficiency and transparency, noting that 82 cents of every dollar now goes directly to refugee support, an improvement from 71 cents in mid-2023.
Japan’s latest donation builds on its history of significant contributions, having provided over US$240 million to WFP, other UN agencies, and NGOs in Bangladesh since the onset of the Rohingya crisis in August 2017. This reinforces Japan’s role as a leading donor to the humanitarian effort. WFP, as the world’s largest humanitarian organization, continues to focus on saving lives in emergencies and fostering resilience in communities recovering from conflict, disasters, and climate change.