Zakir Hossain / Dhaka
The World Bank on Sunday approved two projects worth $700 million to improve services and resilience for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
The Host and Rohingya Enhancement of Lives Project (HELP) and the Inclusive Services and Opportunities Project (ISO) will each receive $350 million in grants and run until 2028, building on over $1 billion in WB support since 2019.
“All assistance to the Rohingya is in the form of grants,” said Jean Pesme, WB country director. “Until safe, dignified and voluntary return is possible, our focus remains on supporting both Rohingya and host communities through $1.3 billion in financing.”
HELP will cover water, sanitation, renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure, aiming to serve 645,000 people. ISO will expand access to health, education, social protection and gender-based violence response, with targets including 22.4 million workdays, schooling for 300,000 Rohingya learners and health services for 560,000 people by 2028.