Sweden has allocated $12.7 million (approximately Tk 155.4 crore) in humanitarian assistance to support more than one million Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district.
The aid will be distributed through eight humanitarian partners, including UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations such as UNHCR, the World Food Programme (WFP), Norwegian Refugee Council, Islamic Relief, Action Against Hunger, Save the Children, and the International Rescue Committee.
The funding aims to address urgent needs in food and nutrition, protection services, healthcare, emergency education, clean water and sanitation, and support for survivors of gender-based violence and children at risk.
“This year, we are increasing our initial allocation compared to last year, because of growing humanitarian needs, not least in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar,” Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks said in a statement.
He reaffirmed Sweden’s longstanding support for Bangladesh’s efforts, saying, “Sweden stands firmly with Bangladesh in responding to humanitarian needs in the country, including those of Rohingya refugees, just as we have for the past seven years.”
In addition to multilateral support, Sweden is also collaborating with Start Fund Bangladesh to help 26 local and national organisations enhance their emergency response capabilities.
The Swedish government noted that this funding reflects its commitment to effective humanitarian action, ensuring that international aid can be deployed quickly and strategically during crises.
Sweden continues to rank among the world’s leading humanitarian donors, providing vital core funding to organisations including UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
