UN and Partners Seek USD 934.5m for Life-saving Aid to 1.5 Million Rohingya Refugees and Their Hosts in Bangladesh

Geneva/Cox’s Bazar, 24 March 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners today called on the international community to enhance its support for Rohingya refugees and their hosts in Bangladesh amid rising insecurity in Myanmar and ongoing forced displacement.

Unrelenting conflict in Myanmar, dwindling financial resources and competing global crises have made it critical for the international community to step up for the Rohingya refugees, who remain in a precarious situation, entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. 

The 2025-26 Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis brings together 113 partners and is being jointly launched by IOM and UNHCR under the leadership of the Bangladesh Government.

This first-ever multi-year funding appeal for the Rohingya Response seeks $934.5 million in its first year to reach some 1.48 million people including Rohingya refugees and host communities.

The JRP is being presented to donors in Geneva by Amy Pope, IOM Director General; Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; and H.E. Mr. Khalilur Rahman, High Representative to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh on Rohingya Issues and Priority Affairs.

In its eighth year, the Rohingya humanitarian crisis remains largely out of the international spotlight but needs remain urgent.

More than 50 per cent of the population in the camps are women and girls who face a higher risk of gender-based violence and exploitation; while one in three Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is aged between 10 and 24. Without access to formal education, adequate skills building and self- reliance opportunities, their futures remain on hold. 

Any funding shortfalls in critical areas, including reductions to food assistance, cooking fuel or basic shelter, will have dire consequences for this highly vulnerable population and may force many to resort to desperate measures, such as embarking on dangerous boat journeys to seek safety.

Until the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is peaceful and conducive to returning safely and voluntarily, the international community must continue to fund life-saving assistance to refugees in the camps, including protection, shelter, and basic needs, and support opportunities that enable them to be self-reliant. 

Watch the Launch of 2025 Rohingya Situation Joint Response Plan online (from 10:00 CET Monday 24 March).

For more information, please contact:  

IOM  

In Bangladesh: Tarek Mahmud, tmahmud@iom.int  

In Bangkok: Itayi Viriri, iviriri@iom.int 

In Geneva: Daniela Rovina, drovina@iom.int      

UNHCR 

In Dhaka, Romain Desclous desclous@unhcr.org, +880 1313-046478  

In Bangkok, Radhika Bhatnagar bhatnaga@unhcr.org, +66 62 310 328 

In Geneva, Babar Baloch, baloch@unhcr.org, +41 79 513 95 49