Japan Provides $1.4 Million for Rohingya Children
Japan has signed a new agreement with UNICEF, committing $1.4 million to deliver life-saving assistance to Rohingya children and families in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
According to a UNICEF press release issued yesterday, the funding will benefit more than 56,500 Rohingya refugees, including over 36,000 children, through essential services in education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition, and healthcare.
The agreement was officially signed in Dhaka by Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers.
Ambassador Saida stated that the assistance comes at a time when global humanitarian funding is declining.
“I am pleased to announce Japan’s new agreement with UNICEF, especially amid declining global funding. This aid focuses on critical services such as education, WASH, nutrition, and health, reflecting Japan’s long-standing partnership with UNICEF and our strong commitment to human security,” she said.
She further expressed hope that the support would strengthen the resilience and dignity of both the Rohingya refugees and the host communities, reaffirming Japan’s continued commitment to the humanitarian response.
Now entering its ninth year, the Rohingya crisis remains one of the world’s largest and most protracted humanitarian emergencies. Overcrowded camps, frequent disease outbreaks, widespread malnutrition, and limited access to quality education continue to expose children to significant risks.
Rana Flowers emphasized that Rohingya children face daily challenges ranging from disease and malnutrition to disrupted learning opportunities.
“The support from the Government of Japan will help keep children healthy and engaged in learning, promote skill-building pathways, and equip families to better care for their youngest members,” she said, describing the partnership as a vital investment in children’s survival, dignity, and future.
Under this agreement, UNICEF will expand access to the Myanmar Curriculum on Bhasan Char and strengthen formal education and skills development programs for adolescents in Cox’s Bazar.
The partnership will also enhance safe water supply systems and sanitation facilities to help prevent outbreaks of cholera, dengue, and other communicable diseases. Hygiene supplies—including soap and menstrual hygiene materials—will be distributed to households to support public health and promote gender equity.
Aligned with Japan’s global advocacy for universal health coverage, the funding will further scale up services to prevent and treat child malnutrition and improve maternal and newborn healthcare. This includes support for the Newborn Stabilization Unit on Bhasan Char and primary healthcare centers in Cox’s Bazar.
Since the onset of the Rohingya crisis in August 2017, Japan has contributed more than $250 million to UN agencies and NGOs in Bangladesh to support the Rohingya response. Of this amount, approximately $47 million has been provided through UNICEF to assist Rohingya children and their families.
This latest contribution highlights Japan’s continued humanitarian commitment to safeguarding the health, education, and future of Rohingya children amid ongoing global challenges.