Staff Correspondent
Japanese Government has decided to provide the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the
Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with USD 1.5 million in assistance for strengthening the
resilience and disaster preparedness skills for the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s
Bazar district and Bhasan Char.
An Exchange of Notes was signed by Japanese Ambassador IWAMA Kiminori and Gitanjali Singh,
Country Representative, UN Women Bangladesh.
The project, titled ‘The Project for Enhancing the Resilience to Disaster Risk and Emergency
Preparedness for Displaced Persons from Myanmar and Women within Host Communities in Cox’s
Bazar District’ will reach more than 1,000 Rohingya refugee women and women of host communities
in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char, building the longer-term economic resilience, strengthening
the leadership, enhancing disaster resilience of women, and strengthening capacities of government
agencies and officials to respond to the needs of women and girls impacted by disasters.
Ambassador IWAMA expressed his hope that the support from the Government of Japan would
improve the living conditions of Rohingya women and women of host communities.
“Japan is committed to improving the living conditions of women and girls in the camps and host
communities. Japan will continue to work towards sustainable solutions including the support of the
repatriation of refugees to Myanmar and will cooperate with international organizations such as UN
Women. I hope these funds will contribute to improving the safety and resilience of both Rohingya
women and women of host communities. Our Foreign Minister Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko recently
established the Taskforce on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) across the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MOFA). I hope this assistance will also contribute to promoting the WPS. ” said Ambassador IWAMA.
“UN Women is deeply grateful for the continued support from the Government of Japan to address
the unfinished agenda of women’s empowerment in the protracted Rohingya crisis response. The
multipurpose women centres provide a holistic and comprehensive model to strengthen the
resilience, self-reliance and protection of vulnerable women and girls. Rohingya and host community
women in disaster prone areas will enhance their skills to assume leadership roles as first responders
in crises and emergencies.” , said Gitanjali Singh, Country Representative of UN Women Bangladesh.
Since the beginning of the emergency in August 2017, Japan has been a steady supporter of the
Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, contributing over USD $220 million to UN Women and
other UN agencies as well as NGOs in Bangladesh, including through this new funding.
