The World Bank (WB) will provide US$165 million worth of grant for improving basic services and disaster risk management for the Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar.
The Washington-based lender signed an agreement in this regard with the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Bangladesh on Wednesday in Dhaka for disbursing the money.
Ms. Dandan Chen, Acting Country Director of the WB and Monowar Ahmed, Secretary of the ERD, inked the deal.
Bangladesh is sheltering over 1.0 million Rohingyas of Myanmar at its southern part in Cox's Bazar. The refugees fled after violence at the Rakhine state in Myanmar.
Under the Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project, the $ 165 million fund will be utilised to build 53 multi-purpose disaster shelters in and around the camps; pave more than 200km of roads; provide water and sanitation services for around 200,000 people; and set up 1,500 solar street lights.
The project will also strengthen emergency response services, provide community works and services, and prevent gender-based violence.
ERD Secretary Monowar Ahmed said: "Bangladesh government has provided shelter to the forcibly displaced Rohingya population. But, this has placed enormous strain on our resources and infrastructure."
He urged the global community to work together for ensuring return of the Rohingya people to their homeland.
The WB said the services delivered under the project will focus on women and children as key beneficiaries and will include measures to prevent gender-based violence.
The project will build gender-friendly public spaces. All facilities including water and sanitation facilities and cyclone shelters will cater to the needs of women, children and disabled individuals.
The street lights will improve the safety for women.
The WB said it will be the third in a series of planned financing of approximately US$500 million, announced by the Bank in June 2018.
Earlier, the Bank committed a $75 million grant that includes a $13 million grant from Canada, to provide the health and learning needs of the Rohingyas.
Besides, the WB is helping the host communities with about $200 million support in Cox's Bazar through ongoing projects: disaster preparedness including building and rehabilitating cyclone shelters; basic infrastructures and governance in union parishads, pourashabhas, and municipal areas; social protection and safety net programmes; and collaborative forest management and income generation opportunities for the host communities.
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