Sweden has announced an additional contribution of USD 2.1million to support life-saving initiatives and promote green energy solutions for Rohingyas in the Cox's Bazar camps ahead of the World Refugee Day.
"Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, Nicolas Weeks, announces an additional USD 2.1 million, equivalent to Tk 25.7 crore, to save lives and support the green return to Cox's Bazar," said a press release issued by the Swedish embassy in Dhaka today (June 19), reports BSS.
It said the contribution will support the provision of cleaner cooking energy to Rohingyas, the continued rehabilitation of the environment and the facilitation of enhanced green skills development for refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.
These activities are part of the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus, phase 2 programme (SAFE+2), a joint UN programme that brings together the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the World Food Programme (WFP) in coordination with the Bangladesh government.
"With drastically decreasing funds, we need to prioritize those with the most severe needs and focus on saving lives, while upholding achievements made over the past few years," said Ambassador Weeks.
"Until they can return to Myanmar in a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable way, I am proud that Sweden stands in solidarity with Rohingyas and their Bangladeshi hosts, promoting human dignity and environmental stewardship," he added.
Sweden has supported the SAFE+ programme since it was first initiated in 2019.
The distribution of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and fuel-efficient cooking equipment has enabled an energy transition away from firewood and associated deforestation.
The distribution of LPG has also protected more than 14,500 hectares of forest and prevented the emission of more than 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide compared to the utilization of firewood.
With this contribution, Swedish support to the SAFE+ initiative totals USD 21 million, or Tk 256.3 crore.
In total, Sweden has supported the Rohingyas and host communities in Cox's Bazar with over USD 136.7 million or Taka 1,667 crore, since 2017.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
