The 5th Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2022, launched on Tuesday, seeks US$841 million to support approximately 1.4 million people, including over 918,000 Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char and around 540,000 Bangladeshis in neighbouring communities.
This year, for the first time, the JRP allocated $100 million for Rohingyas in Bhasan Char.
The launch was jointly hosted by the Bangladesh government, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UNHCR.
Commenting on the JRP 2022, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam told the newsmen that the inclusion of Bhasan Char in the JRP was a significant development.
"We are happy that confusion among our development partners on Bhasan Char is gone," said Mr Alam, who was the main speaker in the event.
Last year, $953 million was sought for the Rohingyas, but the amount of actual support was $645 million - 72 per cent of the requirement.
Responding to a question, the state minister said UN bodies and other humanitarian agencies highlighted the need for keeping in focus the Rohingya issue so that funding for the Rohingyas would not be affected in the wake of a fresh refugee crisis like Ukraine.
He also informed that last week the Myanmar government had renewed its agreement with the UN on allowing them to provide support to the Rohingyas in Myanmar.
Terming it as a positive development, Mr Alam said repatriation of Rohingyas was the first priority for Bangladesh.
He also said that another 4,000 Rohingyas would be shifted to Bhasan Char shortly.
Ms Dominique Hyde, Director, Division of External Relations, UNHCR; Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; António Vitorino, Director General, International Organization for Migration; Dr Eiko Narita, Country Representative, UNFPA Bangladesh; Ms Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh; and Ms Urbi Chakma, Centre Manager, NGO Forum for Public Health, took part in the launching ceremony held virtually.
Under the leadership of the Bangladeshi authorities, the JRP's response for 2022 brings together the activities of 136 partners, of which 74 are Bangladeshi organisations. It also recognises the significant contributions of the refugees themselves to the response, said the UNHCR.
UNHCR and partners are emphasising the need to ensure that the Rohingya situation does not become a forgotten crisis. It is therefore vital to ensure continued funding and support to meet the needs of refugees and surrounding host communities.
Given their location and geography, the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar are especially vulnerable to natural disasters. This year's JRP accordingly highlights the need for enhanced efforts towards disaster risk management and climate change mitigation, including through reforestation and energy interventions, the UNHCR said in its JRP statement.
The UNHCR made it clear that the solutions to this humanitarian situation ultimately lie within Myanmar. UNHCR and partners continue to maintain a presence in Rakhine State to support Myanmar to create the conditions that would be conducive for such returns.
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