Italy renews €2.5M aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Rome renews commitment to the Rohingya crisis as funding shortfalls threaten essential UNHCR protection and community services in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Italy has renewed its commitment to one of the world’s most neglected humanitarian crises, announcing a €2.5 million package to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh as global funding continues to dry up.
The assistance, channeled through Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will be directed to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to maintain essential protection and community programs in the camps of Cox’s Bazar and on the island of Bhasan Char.
According to UNHCR, the grant will sustain local initiatives that help prevent gender-based violence, strengthen child protection, and ensure continued registration and documentation of refugees who remain stateless nearly eight years after fleeing Myanmar.
“This renewed support from Italy comes at a critical time,” said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR’s representative in Bangladesh. “It will help preserve dignity and security for thousands of families living under severe strain.”
More than 1.16 million Rohingya live in the densely packed camps, almost entirely reliant on humanitarian aid for food, shelter, clean water, and healthcare. Another 150,000 arrived in early 2024 after renewed violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, compounding pressure on Bangladesh’s limited resources.
Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro said the move reflects Rome’s long-standing engagement in the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya crisis. He added that Italy welcomes Bangladesh’s willingness to work with regional and international partners toward a sustainable solution for displaced communities.
Analysts say Italy’s renewed support contrasts with a wider trend of donor fatigue, as competing global crises divert attention and resources from the Rohingya. Aid groups have warned that reduced funding risks reversing years of progress in education, health, and protection.
Rome’s latest contribution, they note, is both symbolic and practical — signaling that even as larger powers scale back, smaller states can still play a decisive role in defending refugee rights and keeping long-term humanitarian crises on the world’s agenda.
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