Finland Provides €2 Million for Rohingya Refugees

Photo: Collected

Arakan Now | 31 May 2026

Finland has contributed €2 million to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, helping sustain life-saving assistance and protection services amid growing humanitarian needs and funding challenges, according to a report by the Dhaka Tribune.

The contribution, announced by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will help address critical funding gaps, including support for skills development and resilience-building programmes for Rohingya refugees, according to a press release issued on Sunday.

Nearly a decade after fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar, around 1.2 million stateless Rohingya continue to live in Bangladesh, largely dependent on humanitarian assistance due to limited livelihood opportunities.

According to UNHCR, only 23 percent of Rohingya households earned income through cash-for-work programmes in 2025. Meanwhile, 42 percent relied on temporary and unstable sources of income, while 35 percent had no source of income at all.

The agency said declining humanitarian funding is disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups, including women and girls, persons with disabilities, older people, and approximately 150,000 new arrivals who have entered Bangladesh since early 2024.

“Finland’s increased commitment demonstrates remarkable generosity at a time when the Rohingya response is facing declining funding, worsening camp conditions, and rising protection risks,” said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh.

He added that the contribution reaffirms the international community’s collective responsibility to protect Rohingya families and support them until conditions in Myanmar allow for their voluntary, safe, and dignified return.

Mari Ahmed, Chargée d’Affaires of the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, said Finland stands in solidarity with both Bangladesh and the Rohingya people.

She emphasized the importance of investing not only in basic assistance but also in skills development, resilience-building initiatives, and support for the most vulnerable refugees, while ensuring that the crisis remains on the global agenda.

The contribution comes as the United Nations and its humanitarian partners seek renewed international support following the launch of the 2026 update of the Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis on May 20.

The revised appeal seeks US$710.5 million to assist up to 1.56 million people, including Rohingya refugees and members of Bangladeshi host communities.

Although the appeal represents a 26 percent reduction from the 2025 plan and covers only essential life-saving assistance, it has already secured 60 percent of the required funding.

Finland has long supported humanitarian efforts and multilateral initiatives for forcibly displaced populations worldwide. In addition to its contribution to the Rohingya response, Finland is providing UNHCR with €7 million in flexible core funding for 2026 to support emergency responses and operations in underfunded crises globally.

UNHCR said sustained international engagement and financial support remain essential to strengthen Bangladesh’s response and ensure that Rohingya refugees and host communities continue to receive critical assistance until a durable solution is achieved.