UN seeks $710.5m to support Rohingyas, host communities

The UN, its partners and Bangladesh on Wednesday sought $710.5 million to sustain support for around 1.56 million people, including 1.2 million Rohingya refugees sheltered across Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, alongside approximately 307,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis living in surrounding host communities.

"The shrinking of international resources threatens to drastically deepen vulnerabilities among both the refugee population and local host communities," Kelly T Clements of UNHCR said while presenting updated funding figures during an event titled "Presentation of the 2026 JRP Update for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis in Bangladesh", held at the UN House in Dhaka on Wednesday.

The event was jointly organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Among those present were Rania Dagash-Kamara of WFP, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda of UN Women, Acting Foreign Secretary and Secretary for Intergovernmental Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs M Forhadul Islam, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator.

Experts said the reduced appeal represented a cut of $254 million from the 2025 requirements, reflecting the absolute "bare minimum" needed to prevent an operational collapse amid constrained planning and strict cost-cutting measures.

The appeal is supported by 98 humanitarian partners, including 52 Bangladeshi organisations.

According to the paper, the updated 2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh is facing a 37 percent funding shortfall.

Taking part in the discussion, Acting Foreign Secretary M Forhadul Islam stressed that managing the crisis is a regional and global responsibility, saying it is not Bangladesh's burden alone.