COX’S BAZAR, BANGLADESH – The United Kingdom and Qatar have announced a joint humanitarian funding package of $11.2 million to support hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities in the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

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The commitment focuses primarily on delivering Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), a critical initiative designed to stabilize living conditions for refugees while mitigating severe environmental damage caused by the protracted crisis.

Fueling Safety and Environmental Recovery

The primary objective of the $11.2 million joint donation is to ensure the uninterrupted supply of cooking fuel to over 647,000 Rohingya refugees currently residing in the camps.

• Mitigating Deforestation: The provision of LPG is a direct response to the devastating deforestation around the camps. For years, refugees have been forced to rely on firewood for cooking, resulting in the rapid clearing of local forest reserves—a trend that has endangered wildlife and made the hillsides vulnerable to landslides.

• Improving Health and Protection: Switching from firewood to clean-burning LPG significantly reduces indoor air pollution, addressing respiratory illnesses, particularly among women and children. Furthermore, it enhances protection for women and girls who previously risked their safety venturing out to collect wood.

A statement from the British High Commission emphasized the dual benefit: “Together, we are committed to creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable communities by addressing both humanitarian needs and environmental degradation.”

Crucial Intervention Amid Funding Shortfalls

This joint commitment from the UK and Qatar comes at a critical time when international funding for the Rohingya response is facing severe shortfalls. The UN’s Joint Response Plan (JRP) has warned that without sustained investment, essential services, including cooking fuel and food rations, face drastic cuts.

The provision of LPG is considered more than just a convenience; it is an essential component for protection, health, and dignity in the camps. The aid will be channeled through established humanitarian partners on the ground in Cox’s Bazar.

A Global Commitment to a Protracted Crisis

The UK and Qatar are long-standing partners in supporting the one million-plus Rohingya population displaced from Myanmar since the 2017 atrocities.

• UK Support: The UK remains one of the largest donors to the crisis, having provided hundreds of millions of pounds in humanitarian aid since 2017 to cover food, shelter, water, and sanitation.

• Qatar’s Role: Qatar, through the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Qatar Charity, has consistently delivered aid, with a significant focus on providing essential services and sustainable energy solutions like LPG to improve the refugees’ daily lives.

This latest injection of funds underscores the international community’s renewed focus on the urgent need to maintain life-saving services and pursue sustainable, long-term solutions for this vulnerable population.