DHAKA - Australia and the UN Refugee Agency have announced A$25.25 million in multiyear assistance for Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.
The flexible funding will support UNHCR’s protection work, essential services, skills-development programmes and disaster-risk reduction, according to the funding announcement on August 3. It forms part of Australia’s humanitarian assistance for 2026–28 and is intended to provide more predictable financing for the prolonged refugee response.
Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle said the contribution would help provide critical services to the most vulnerable Rohingya, particularly women, girls and people with disabilities.
The funding will also support disaster-risk reduction measures for refugees living in fragile and disaster-prone environments.
Bangladesh was hosting 1,200,171 Rohingya refugees as of June 30, according to the latest UNHCR population data. That total included 1,166,352 people in Cox’s Bazar and 33,819 on Bhasan Char. UNHCR also recorded 153,640 biometrically identified new arrivals as of June 30.
The announcement comes as humanitarian agencies seek US$710.5 million through the 2026 Joint Response Plan to meet the most urgent needs of refugees and Bangladeshi host communities. The appeal aims to reach as many as 1.56 million people and is 26% smaller than the 2025 request.
“Australia’s continued support sends a strong message that the Rohingya people have not been forgotten,” UNHCR’s representative ad interim in Bangladesh, Juliette Murekeyisoni, said.
She added that Rohingya continue to express their desire to return to Myanmar with their rights, dignity and citizenship restored.
Australian Assistant Minister Julian Hill said conditions in Myanmar must allow any return to be voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable. Australia’s broader humanitarian programme provides up to A$370 million over three years for humanitarian needs in Myanmar and assistance for displaced Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh.
The A$25.25 million contribution is being provided under Australia’s 2026–28 humanitarian assistance package.
