The British High Commission in Dhaka declared on Thursday that the United Kingdom is extending an additional £5.2 million (equivalent to Tk73.2 crore) in humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees residing in Bangladesh.

This announcement coincided with the launch of the 2024 humanitarian appeal for the Rohingya response in Bangladesh, known as the Joint Response Plan, which took place in Geneva on Wednesday.

This fresh wave of UK assistance, to be executed by the World Food Program (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), aims to furnish food supplies and cooking fuel to Rohingya refugees situated in Cox’s Bazar.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, affirmed, “I am delighted to unveil this new allocation of £5.2 million to address humanitarian necessities in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, facilitating crucial provisions of food and cooking gas to the Rohingya."

Cooke emphasized the UK's steadfast support for Rohingya refugees and the adjacent Bangladeshi communities grappling with the crisis, acknowledging Bangladesh’s substantial efforts in accommodating the Rohingya population and underscoring the commitment to seek enduring resolutions.

"In the interim, we are extending humanitarian aid to alleviate the plight of those affected. Further support will be disclosed later this year," she added.

This latest tranche of UK support includes £2.8 million allocated to WFP for catering to the food needs of over 311,600 Rohingya refugees, along with £2.4 million designated to IOM and UNHCR for the provision of cooking gas to more than 489,800 Rohingya refugees.

Since 2017, the United Kingdom has disbursed a total of £379 million in humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and the neighboring communities in Bangladesh.