UNHCR praises South Korea's $1 million donation to support Rohingyas in Bangladesh

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, is pleased to acknowledge the Republic of Korea's kind donation of USD $1 million.

With this significant contribution, UNHCR's efforts to protect and aid Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are strengthened.

In close collaboration with the Bangladeshi government and international organisations, the government of the Republic of Korea has been giving USD 3 to 5 million a year to the Rohingyas and their host communities in Bangladesh since 2017. As a cleaner energy source, Korea values UNHCR's humanitarian work in supplying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), according to Park Young-sik, the Korean Republic's ambassador to Bangladesh.

According to Soo-Jin Rhee, UNHCR Deputy Representative, "the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh is a protracted situation, with almost one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh still reliant on humanitarian assistance for their daily needs," as it has been six years since the most recent exodus from Myanmar in August 2017.

"UNHCR will be able to guarantee the dignity and well-being of the refugees during their stay in Bangladesh with this additional support from the Government and people of the Republic of Korea." She continued, "We now face a significant reduction in financial support from the international community, making the Republic of Korea's commitment all the more precious.

In addition to improving food security, nutrition, and health for refugees, UNHCR has reversed environmental degradation in and around the camps since leading the way in LPG distribution in 2018 as a substitute for cooking with firewood gathered from forests.

Because LPG users don't have to gather wood, there is a reduction in the risk to refugee women and girls and more time for them to attend school.

Approximately 930,000 Rohingya refugees are currently housed in crowded camps in Cox's Bazar, six years after being forced to flee violence in Myanmar. An additional 30,000 refugees live on Bhasan Char.