Sweden Pledges $2.1m for Rohingya Aid, Forest Revival

Ahead of World Refugee Day 2025, Sweden has pledged an additional $2.1 million (Tk 25.7 crore) to support life-saving initiatives and promote environmental sustainability in Cox’s Bazar.

The new funding will help provide cleaner cooking energy for Rohingya refugees, continue efforts to rehabilitate the environment, and enhance green skills development for both refugees and host communities.

These activities are part of the second phase of the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus (SAFE+2) programme—a joint initiative involving the FAO, IOM, UNHCR, and WFP in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh.

Sweden’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Nicolas Weeks, stressed the importance of prioritising urgent needs amid declining global support. “This contribution will allow refugees to continue cooking with cleaner fuel, preserving both forests and their health,” he said. “Until they can return to Myanmar voluntarily and safely, Sweden stands with them and their Bangladeshi hosts.”

Since 2019, the SAFE+ programme has helped shift energy use from firewood to Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), reducing deforestation and health risks. Over 2,300 hectares of degraded forest have been restored, and more than 14,500 hectares protected—preventing the emission of 370,000 tonnes of CO₂.

Sweden’s total support to the SAFE+ initiative now stands at $21 million (Tk 256.3 crore). Since 2017, the country has provided over $136.7 million (Tk 1,667 crore) in aid for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.

Marking World Refugee Day, Ambassador Weeks acknowledged the despair growing within the Rohingya community. “After nearly eight years in exile, hope is fading. But we see you. You are not forgotten. You are not alone,” he said.