UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced a EUR 2 million contribution from the Government of Finland to sustain life-saving assistance and protection for Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
A press release sent to the media on Sunday by UNHCR also read that, with this increased contribution, Finland enables UNHCR to fill critical gaps, including in underfunded areas such as skills development and resilience programming.
The release continued that nearly a decade after fleeing targeted violence and persecution in Myanmar, 1.2 million stateless Rohingya continue to reside in Bangladesh.
With limited livelihood opportunities, Rohingya in Bangladesh remain largely dependent on aid, in 2025, only 23 per cent of refugee households earned income through cash-for-work, the only formal livelihood activity permitted, 42 per cent had access to temporary and unstable income sources, while 35 per cent had no income source at all, depending fully on assistance, it also read.
As funding falls, it read, the most vulnerable bear the brunt — women and girls, persons with disabilities, older people, and some 150,000 new arrivals since early 2024, who are still without shelters due to lack of space in the already congested camps.
‘As the Rohingya response enters a fragile phase — marked by declining funding, worsening camp conditions, rising protection risks, and continued instability in Myanmar — Finland’s stepped up commitment shows great generosity,’ said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR representative in Bangladesh.
‘It reaffirms our collective responsibility to protect Rohingya families and help them thrive, until conditions in Myanmar allow for voluntary, dignified and safe return to their homeland.’
‘Finland stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and with the Rohingya people. Almost a decade into displacement, the Rohingya people still awaits a chance to rebuild their lives,’ said Mari Ahmed, Chargee d’Affaires ai of the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi.
‘In addition to basic assistance, we must invest in a better future for the Rohingya — including support for skills and resilience-building, inclusion of those most vulnerable, and ensuring that their plight does not fade from global attention.’
The release also read that Finland’s contribution comes as the UN and its humanitarian partners call for renewed international support, as they presented on May 20, the 2026 update of the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.
The hyper-prioritised plan appeals for $710.5 million, to reach up to 1.56 million people, including refugees and Bangladeshi host communities, it added.
