Australia provides over $17 million in support for Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh

Photo – Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh following widespread repression in Myanmar in 2017. Anadolu Amid declining global humanitarian funding, the Australian government and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced on Monday that they will provide over AUD 25.25 million (approximately USD 17.74 million) in support for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar region. The support is part of Australia's humanitarian program for 2026-2028. The UNHCR's Bangladesh office stated that the funding will be used to continue providing life-saving assistance, support livelihoods and skills development programs, and fund disaster risk reduction activities within Rohingya camps. The announcement was made in Dhaka by Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Kalila Rahman and Australia's Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Immigration and Community Services and International Education, Julian Hill. "Australia remains committed to supporting the humanitarian needs of Rohingya people in Myanmar and Bangladesh. While displaced Rohingya people wish to return home, there must be adequate conditions in Myanmar for a safe, dignified, and sustainable voluntary return. To achieve this, Myanmar must address the root causes of the conflict," said Julian Hill. UNHCR's Representative in Bangladesh, Juliet Murikeiseni, also stated, "It has been nearly nine years since the Rohingya crisis began. With new emergencies emerging around the world, the Rohingya crisis faces the risk of gradually fading from global attention." Following widespread repression in Myanmar in 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh. Currently, nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees remain displaced, with the majority residing in densely populated refugee camps near Cox's Bazar. UNHCR states that the Rohingya are heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance, and funding shortfalls are exacerbating conditions, forcing them to undertake dangerous sea journeys. UNHCR has reported that approximately 900 Rohingya refugees died or went missing in 2025 while attempting to cross the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Moe Thae translated "Australia announces $17.74M support for Rohingya, host communities in Bangladesh" from Anadolu.