What's New
2021/12/19
Japan and UNHCR Support Improvement of Access to Health Care for Forcibly Displaced People from Myanmar and Host Communities in Cox’s Bazar District
H. E. Mr. ITO Naoki, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh with Mr. Johannes Van Der Klaauw,
Representative, UNHCR Bangladesh signed the Exchange of Notes.
Dhaka December 15, 2021 – the Government of Japan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed an agreement to provide approximately US$ 4.4 million to support the improvement of healthcare for “Rohingya” and Bangladeshi host communities and in Cox’s Bazar. The Exchange of Notes was signed by Mr. Johannes Van Der Klaauw, UNHCR Bangladesh Representative, and H. E. Mr. ITO Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh at the UNHCR country office in Dhaka.
Rohingya population and host communities in Cox's Bazar has been faced with challenges in ensuring access to healthcare, nutrition and medical services. The pandemic has compounded existing health needs in the extremely congested camps, with limited water and sanitation services, and saturated health facilities. The three-year-project will support the construction of new in-patient facilities in Ukhiya Specialized Hospital to facilitate access to specialized care, same-day surgeries and other services scarcely available in the District, including assistance to mental health and psychosocial support. It will also support the renovation and maintenance of 39 healthcare and nutrition facilities in the Rohingya refugee camps and allow for the provision of critical medical supplies, equipment and medicines to both refugees and Bangladeshis.
The project will be implemented in close collaboration and under the guidance and leadership of the Bangladesh Government, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).
“The significant contribution from the Government of Japan will allow UNHCR to continue providing vital access to healthcare for some 265,000 refugee and host community members, following what has been a uniquely challenging 18 months, as COVID-19 increased health needs for both refugees and Bangladeshis” said Mr. Johannes Van Der Klaauw, UNHCR Representative to Bangladesh.
“It is our great pleasure to provide assistance to this project, and we strongly hope it will improve healthcare and medical situations of both refugees and host communities. During my last visit to the camps in Cox’s Bazar back in October, I was able to see the dedicate work of UNHCR and the other agencies amid the difficult situations. Japan will continue to work towards early repatriation to Myanmar, while contributing to the better living conditions of refugees and host communities in collaboration with the international organizations and NGOs, as finding durable solutions of this crisis will be conducive to our pursuit of a Free and Open Indo- Pacific.” said Mr. ITO Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh.
Since the large influx of more than 700,000 refugees into Bangladesh in August 2017, the Government of Japan has granted approximately USD $150 million to international organizations and NGOs to assist both “Rohingya” and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.
Rohingya population and host communities in Cox's Bazar has been faced with challenges in ensuring access to healthcare, nutrition and medical services. The pandemic has compounded existing health needs in the extremely congested camps, with limited water and sanitation services, and saturated health facilities. The three-year-project will support the construction of new in-patient facilities in Ukhiya Specialized Hospital to facilitate access to specialized care, same-day surgeries and other services scarcely available in the District, including assistance to mental health and psychosocial support. It will also support the renovation and maintenance of 39 healthcare and nutrition facilities in the Rohingya refugee camps and allow for the provision of critical medical supplies, equipment and medicines to both refugees and Bangladeshis.
The project will be implemented in close collaboration and under the guidance and leadership of the Bangladesh Government, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).
“The significant contribution from the Government of Japan will allow UNHCR to continue providing vital access to healthcare for some 265,000 refugee and host community members, following what has been a uniquely challenging 18 months, as COVID-19 increased health needs for both refugees and Bangladeshis” said Mr. Johannes Van Der Klaauw, UNHCR Representative to Bangladesh.
“It is our great pleasure to provide assistance to this project, and we strongly hope it will improve healthcare and medical situations of both refugees and host communities. During my last visit to the camps in Cox’s Bazar back in October, I was able to see the dedicate work of UNHCR and the other agencies amid the difficult situations. Japan will continue to work towards early repatriation to Myanmar, while contributing to the better living conditions of refugees and host communities in collaboration with the international organizations and NGOs, as finding durable solutions of this crisis will be conducive to our pursuit of a Free and Open Indo- Pacific.” said Mr. ITO Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh.
Since the large influx of more than 700,000 refugees into Bangladesh in August 2017, the Government of Japan has granted approximately USD $150 million to international organizations and NGOs to assist both “Rohingya” and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.