Australia reaffirms support for Rohingya refugees

Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities in Bangladesh amid what it described as the largest protracted refugee crisis in the region.

Earlier this week, Australia’s Humanitarian Coordinator Steve Scott and Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle visited refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar as part of a high-level delegation organised by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

During the visit — Mr Scott’s fourth to the camps — the delegation met Bangladesh State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain and discussed ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts for Rohingya refugees and affected local communities.

Australia said it remains steadfast in its support for those most vulnerable and highlighted its long-term humanitarian engagement in the region.

Australia has committed more than $1.26 billion in humanitarian assistance to Myanmar and Bangladesh since 2017. This includes a new three-year programme worth up to $370 million, launched in 2026, aimed at continuing support for displaced Rohingya populations and host communities in Bangladesh.

The Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar host more than one million refugees who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.