$2m Japanese funds for Rohingyas on Bhasan Char

As part of the latest international funding pledge for the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh, the Japanese government has decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of total $ 2 million supporting the refugees now hosted on Bhasan Char.

This contribution includes $1 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the rest to World Food Programme (WFP), reports BSS citing a press release issued by the Japanese embassy on Saturday.

The fund would be used for implementing humanitarian assistance activities for the displaced "Rohingyas", who are in need of urgent assistance in Bhasan Char in areas such as food and health.

Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka ITO Naoki said his government supports steady and smooth operations of the international organizations under the MoU signed between the Bangladesh Government and the United Nations in October 2021, which is a basic framework of assistance for Bhasan Char.

"Resolving Rohingya issues is of utmost importance for the peace and stability of the region," he said.

The envoy appreciated Bangladesh government's efforts to protect "Rohingya" people and the dedicated work of the international organizations.

Japan expects the UN will respond to prevailing and increasing humanitarian and protection needs on the island, and strongly hopes that this assistance will contribute to better service delivery and improve living conditions of people living on Bhasan Char" Naoki said.

Japan will continue to stand by Bangladesh and work towards the early repatriation of displaced "Rohingya" to Myanmar, said the Japanese mission here.

Finding durable solutions to this crisis is significant not only to Bangladesh but also to the stability of the entire region, and thereby conducive to the realization of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific", which is a vision to secure peace, stability and prosperity in the region, said the release.