Japan, UNHCR sign $10m deal to improve water supply in Teknaf

The Japanese government and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have signed an agreement to provide around $10 million to support the improvement of water supply and distribution systems for Bangladeshi host communities and Rohingya communities in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki and UNHCR Bangladesh Assistant Representative Kashiwa Fumiko signed the agreement on Sunday at the UNHCR Country Office in Dhaka, said a media statement on Monday.

Local people in Teknaf has been facing challenges in ensuring safe access to water for many years. The situation became even more challenging following the influx of Rohingya forced to flee from Myanmar in recent years. 

This contribution will help stabilise the water supply, and to improve the living conditions of both communities, said the statement.

The project will be implemented over the course of three years. 

It will be carried out in close collaboration and under the guidance and leadership of the Bangladesh government, including Economic Relations Division (ERD), Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE), Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MODMR) as well as the deputy commissioner (DC) in Cox’s Bazar, added the press release.

“UNHCR, with the support of the Japanese government, is committed to supporting host communities as well as the Rohingya population, who need continued humanitarian assistance,” said Kashiwa, UNHCR assistant representative to Bangladesh.

Ambassador Ito Naoki said: “Both host community and refugees will benefit from the project. I sincerely hope that this project will be able to improve access to water for the host community and refugees in Teknaf, and to contribute to the stable development of Bangladesh.”

Since the influx of refugees into Bangladesh began in August 2017, the Japan government has granted approximately $140 million to international organizations and NGOs to assist both Rohingyas, as well as the host communities.