The Republic of Korea has contributed $5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support life-saving food assistance, nutrition services and school feeding programmes for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The contribution, officially announced by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July, comes as humanitarian needs among the Rohingya population remain high and funding for the response faces growing pressure.
Nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char continue to depend on humanitarian assistance, while food insecurity, malnutrition and other vulnerabilities remain significant.
The new funding will enable WFP to support more than 462,000 Rohingya refugees. It will provide food assistance to vulnerable families, nutrition support to more than 36,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and school feeding for around 260,000 children attending learning centres.
The funding will also support the second phase of REACH (Responding with Emergency Assistance for Conflict-affected Households), a humanitarian initiative of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs implemented in partnership with WFP.
Through WFP’s e-voucher system, Rohingya families can choose the food they need with greater flexibility and dignity. Nutrition services also help pregnant and breastfeeding women access nutritious food and treatment when malnutrition is detected.
The school feeding programme provides children with fortified nutritious food on school days, helping meet their nutritional needs while encouraging regular attendance and participation in learning.
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-joon said his country was proud to stand alongside WFP in supporting people affected by humanitarian crises, including Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
WFP Representative and Country Director in Bangladesh Coco Ushiyama said continued international support was essential as the Rohingya crisis approaches its tenth year.
The Republic of Korea and WFP have been partners for more than 60 years, with their cooperation dating back to 1964.
In Bangladesh, South Korea has provided significant cash and in-kind support to WFP’s humanitarian operations. With the latest contribution, its cash contributions through the e-voucher system to WFP’s humanitarian operations in Bangladesh have reached $11.9 million.
WFP said sustained and predictable international support remains essential to ensure Rohingya families continue to receive food, nutrition and education assistance and live with dignity.
