Japan, UNHCR sign $4.5m agreement to support Rohingyas

News Desk :
Japan has decided to provide 4.5 million US dollars to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency for the continuous provision of essential protection interventions and humanitarian assistance to Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori and UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Johannes van der Klaauw inked a new partnership agreement on behalf of their respective sides in this regards on Wednesday.
The Japanese contribution will strengthen lifesaving and life-sustaining services and support enhanced resilience and self-reliance of refugees and Bangladeshis in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, a press release said, reports BSS.
“We will continue to engage in the solution for a voluntary, safe and sustainable return (of Rohingyas), and will cooperate with UNHCR and other humanitarian partners to achieve better living conditions for refugees (Rohingyas) and host communities.” said Japanese envoy on the occasion.
He highly lauded the role of Bangladesh government, the UN agencies and NGOs in managing such huge number of forcibly displaced people and reiterated Japanese commitment to provide continuous support for Rohingyas and Bangladeshi host communities.
In Cox’s Bazar, the assistance will prioritize access to sanitation and hygiene products, the continued operation and maintenance of WASH facilities as well as skill development activities for the Rohingyas, aimed at rendering them less dependent of decreasing humanitarian assistance.
On Bhasan Char, the Japanese contribution will allow UNHCR to expand and enhance education and livelihood activities to  
 further capacitate Rohingyas in supporting their communities.
The contribution aims attaining of larger numbers of Rohingya teachers and facilitators in support of the rollout of the Myanmar Curriculum and allow for the expansion of vocational and other skill development training at a jute production centre on the island.
Since the beginning of the crisis in August 2017, Japan has been a steadfast supporter of the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, contributing over USD 204 million to UNHCR and other UN agencies and NGOs in Bangladesh, said the release.