Finland Pledges €2 Million in Support for Rohingya Refugees

Finland has contributed €2 million to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, helping maintain life-saving assistance and protection services amid rising humanitarian needs and shrinking funding resources.

The contribution, announced by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will help bridge critical funding gaps, including support for skills development and resilience-building programmes for Rohingya refugees, according to a press release issued on Sunday.

Nearly a decade after fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar, around 1.2 million stateless Rohingyas continue to live in Bangladesh, with most relying on humanitarian aid due to limited opportunities to earn a livelihood.

UNHCR data shows that only 23 percent of Rohingya households generated income through cash-for-work programmes in 2025, while 42 percent depended on temporary and unstable sources of income and 35 percent had no source of income at all.

The agency warned that declining humanitarian funding is having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, including women and girls, persons with disabilities, older people and approximately 150,000 new arrivals who have entered Bangladesh since early 2024.

“Finland’s increased commitment reflects remarkable generosity at a time when the Rohingya response is grappling with declining funding, deteriorating camp conditions and heightened protection risks,” said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR representative in Bangladesh.

He said the contribution reaffirmed the international community’s shared responsibility to protect Rohingya families and support them until conditions in Myanmar allow for their voluntary, safe and dignified return.

Mari Ahmed, charge d'affaires of the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, said Finland stands in solidarity with both Bangladesh and the Rohingya people.

She stressed the need to invest not only in basic humanitarian assistance but also in skills development, resilience-building initiatives and support for the most vulnerable refugees, while ensuring that the Rohingya crisis remains a global priority.

The contribution comes as the United Nations and its humanitarian partners seek renewed international backing following the launch of the 2026 update of the Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis on 20 May.

The revised appeal seeks $710.5 million to assist up to 1.56 million people, including Rohingya refugees and members of Bangladeshi host communities. Although the appeal is 26 percent smaller than the 2025 plan and focuses solely on essential life-saving assistance, 60 percent of the required funding has already been secured.

Finland has long supported humanitarian and multilateral efforts for forcibly displaced populations worldwide. Alongside its contribution to the Rohingya response, Finland is providing UNHCR with €7 million in flexible core funding for 2026 to support emergency operations and underfunded crises across the globe.

UNHCR said continued international engagement and financial support remain crucial to strengthening Bangladesh’s response and ensuring that Rohingya refugees and host communities receive critical assistance until a durable solution is achieved.