Sweden announces USD 2.1m more for Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar  

Ahead of World Refugee Day (June 20), Sweden has announced an additional contribution of USD 2.1 million (equivalent to Tk 25.7 crore) to support life-saving initiatives and promote green energy solutions for Rohingya refugees in the Cox’s Bazar camps.

Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, Nicolas Weeks, made the announcement today, as stated in a press release issued by the Swedish embassy in Dhaka. The contribution will be directed towards providing cleaner cooking energy for Rohingyas, continuing environmental rehabilitation efforts, and facilitating enhanced green skills development for both refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.

These activities are part of the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus, Phase 2 (SAFE+2) program, a joint United Nations initiative. This program brings together the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the World Food Programme (WFP), in coordination with the Bangladesh government.

Ambassador Weeks emphasized the critical need to prioritize assistance amidst dwindling funds. “With drastically decreasing funds, we need to prioritize those with the most severe needs and focus on saving lives, while upholding achievements made over the past few years,” he stated. He added, “Until they can return to Myanmar in a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable way, I am proud that Sweden stands in solidarity with Rohingyas and their Bangladeshi hosts, promoting human dignity and environmental stewardship.”

Sweden has been a supporter of the SAFE+ program since its inception in 2019. The initiative’s distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and fuel-efficient cooking equipment has facilitated a crucial energy transition, moving away from firewood and its associated deforestation. The adoption of LPG has notably protected over 14,500 hectares of forest and prevented the emission of more than 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide compared to the use of firewood.

With this latest pledge, Sweden’s total support for the SAFE+ initiative now reaches USD 21 million (Tk 256.3 crore). In total, Sweden has contributed over USD 136.7 million (Tk 1,667 crore) to support the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar since 2017.