World Bank provides Bangladesh $350 million grant for local communities and Rohingya camps

Today the World Bank approved $350 million in grant funding for three initiatives to support Bangladesh deal with one of the biggest forced migration in the world. These grants would help Bangladesh meet the needs of the host communities and the displaced Rohingya for health care, response to gender-based abuse, social security, public facilities and sanitation in Cox's Bazar area.

"Bangladesh has shown great leadership by providing shelter to around 1.1 million Rohingya, which is about three times of the local population in Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas. Naturally, this has placed immense strain on existing infrastructure and social service delivery, and increased health and disaster risks," said Mercy Tembon, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan. "The three grants will cater to the needs of both the host and Rohingya communities. At the same time, they will strengthen the country's service delivery capacity and increase resilience to natural disaster and climate change."

The $150 million Health and Gender Care Initiative for Cox's Bazar District would offer access to health, education, and family planning programs to 3.6 million citizens including the Rohingya, as well as tackle gender-based abuse through prevention and intervention programs.

The infant mortality rate and prevalence of stunting in Cox's Bazar is higher than national average. The project will renovate and upgrade health facilities in Cox's Bazar, including District Sadar Hospital and the Mother and Child Welfare Center in the localities; and the Women Friendly Spaces inside the Rohingya camps. The project will also help fill in vacant positions of health professionals and ensure adequate medical supplies. Within the Rohingya camps, the project will provide psychosocial counseling, immunization, Tuberculosis screening and treatment and nutrition services. 

The $100 million additional financing to the Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project will scale up access to energy, water, sanitation and disaster-resilient infrastructures for the Rohingya and the surrounding host communities.

The project will benefit about 780,800 people, including 140,800 local people with better public infrastructure. This includes access to improved water sources for 365,800 people and better sanitation for 171,800 people. It will help build 40 multi-purpose disaster shelters, accessible to 81,000 people. The project will also support renewable energy systems  using solar photovoltaic nano-grid schemes to increase access to clean electricity and install  around 4,000 solar street lights, 975 lightning protection systems and build 250 km of climate resilient roads. It will also help government agencies to strengthen institutional systems and capacities to plan, coordinate and respond to crisis and emergencies.

The $100 million additional financing to the Safety Net Systems for the Poorest Project will help provide livelihoods and income support to poor and vulnerable households in the host communities using an existing national safety net program, Employment Generation Program for the Poorest; and scale-up social assistance coverage to the Rohingya under the Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project. The additional financing will benefit 40,000 host community households and 85,000 Rohingya households.

With these three grants, the World Bank has provided a total of $480 million in grants to enable Bangladesh to deal with the displaced population inflow. Bangladesh currently has one of the largest IDA programs totaling $11.8 billion. Since independence, the World Bank has committed more than $30 billion in grants, interest-free, and concessional credits to the country.