Dhaka, 20th of February 2025 – The Government of Italy has renewed its commitment to the one million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh. With a contribution of €3 million, Italy will assist UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and WFP, the United Nations World Food Programme, to sustain their critical humanitarian assistance in the refugee camps.
The support from Italy is key to promoting refugee rights and well-being. With €1 million going to UNHCR’s protection interventions, ensuring safe living conditions and access to essential services such as registration, shelter, healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene. The other €2 million will go towards WFP’s lifesaving food assistance for the refugees and to support malnutrition prevention and treatment services for young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
“These contributions reaffirm Italy’s commitment to the Rohingya population taking refuge in Bangladesh, also outlined by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi, during her latest mission to Dhaka. We commend UNHCR and WFP’s work in the field, both of which provide support to this protracted and multi-faceted humanitarian crisis. These initiatives reflect Italy’s solidarity with the Rohingya people facing severe hardships, and our commitment in defending their dignity,” said H.E. Antonio Alessandro, Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh.
“This contribution is a testament to the solidarity of the Italian people with the Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi host community. Knowing all too well that international support cannot be taken for granted, such generosity and advocacy are critical to keep the spotlight on a crisis that we can ill afford becoming forgotten,” said Sumbul Rizvi, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh.
“We are deeply grateful to Italy and the Italian people for their unwavering support. Eight years into this crisis, the humanitarian needs of nearly one million refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char remain as urgent as ever. It is imperative that we work together to ensure the Rohingya crisis remains a priority on the global agenda. We sincerely thank AICS and the Italian Embassy for their steadfast commitment to the survival and well-being of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh.
With limited livelihood opportunities, nearly all Rohingya refugees are dependent on humanitarian assistance for their survival. Every person in the camps in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char now receives the equivalent of $12 per month from WFP to purchase food. Living in crowded conditions in the camps, they face crisis after crisis, as they are confronted with ongoing threats from climate change, fire hazards, and insecurity. Italy’s contribution will be instrumental in maintaining food security, reducing disaster risk reduction, safeguarding the most vulnerable and bolstering community resilience. It will also support efforts to promote peace and security within the camps, foster coexistence with host communities, and protect the fragile natural environment.
“Italy’s contributions to UNCHR and WFP in support of Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar camps demonstrate our strong commitment to addressing the needs of one of the world’s most vulnerable populations. This collaboration reflects Italy’s broader dedication to humanitarian principles and underscores the importance of international cooperation in responding to complex crises, ensuring that no one is left behind,” declared Margherita Lulli, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Hanoi, covering Southeast Asia.
UNHCR, WFP, and their partners – alongside the Government of Bangladesh – are preparing to launch the 2025 Joint Response Plan outlining the humanitarian needs of both Rohingya refugees and host communities. However, funding has remained a critical challenge in recent years.
For more information, please contact:
UNHCR: Shari Nijman, Communications Officer; nijman@unhcr.org; +880 18 9480 2700
WFP: Kun Li, Head of Partnerships, Communication and Reports; kun@wfp.org ; +880 1322846137
AICS Hanoi: Chiara Aranci, Communication Officer; chiara.aranci@aics.gov.it
