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Japan provides $10m for water supply in Teknaf


Published : 01 Mar 2021 09:01 PM | Updated : 02 Mar 2021 12:34 AM

Japan will provide approximately $10million to support the improvement of the water supply and distribution system for Bangladeshi host communities and Rohingya refugees in Teknaf Upazila, Cox’s Bazar.

An agreement was signed in this regard with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said a joint statement on Monday.

UNHCR Bangladesh Assistant Representative Yumiko Kashiwa and Ambassador of Japan Ito Naoki signed the deal at the UNHCR country office in Dhaka.

Teknaf Upazila in Cox's Bazar has been facing challenges in ensuring safe access to water for the local population 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 to stabilize the water supply, and improve the living conditions of both communities, according to the statement.

The project will be implemented over the course of three years, and carried out in close collaboration and under the guidance and leadership of the Bangladesh Government, including the Economic Relations Division (ERD), the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE), the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MODMR) as well as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Cox’s Bazar.

“I sincerely hope that this project will be able to support the water environment of host communities and refugees in Teknaf, and to contribute to the stable development of Bangladesh,” the ambassador said. “Japan’s humanitarian assistance for these beneficiaries has reached $140 million and Japan will continue its support to Bangladesh, in the pursuit of Free and Open Indo- Pacific.”

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