The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday approved $86.7 million in assistance — comprising a $58.6 million grant and $28.1 million concessional loan — to improve infrastructure and essential services for displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and host communities in Bangladesh.
The funding, provided through the Asian Development Fund for vulnerable nations, will support the Integrated Services and Livelihood Improvement Project according to a press release.
The initiative aims to enhance water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, upgrade roads and bridges, strengthen safety and security measures, improve drainage systems, boost food security, and increase disaster resilience in affected areas.
A differentiated approach will be applied to address the specific needs of both DPFM and host communities in the Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char areas.
The project will also enhance connectivity and access to essential services, while strengthening government capacity to manage and implement projects.
ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong said that they are pleased to support Bangladesh in strengthening the protection and resilience of displaced people from Myanmar, while promoting social cohesion between those living in the camps and host communities.
“This new assistance builds on our earlier support — totaling $171.4 million in grants and loans — under the Emergency Assistance Project and its additional financing, which have been supporting the displaced population and host communities since 2018.”
In the DPFM (Displaced People From Myanmar) camps, the project will install or replace solar-powered streetlights in Cox’s Bazar and rehabilitate the existing fecal sludge management system in Bhasan Char, while optimising BioGas production for cooking.
In both Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, drainage canals will be rehabilitated using nature-based solutions, and food distribution centers will be constructed with a focus on improving access for women, children, and people with disabilities.
In host communities, the project will construct cyclone shelters that double as schools in Hatia and implement mini piped water supply systems across nine upazilas in Cox’s Bazar.
Additionally, the project will construct a surface water treatment plant in Palongkhali Union, Ukhia, and a transmission pipeline to deliver treated water to the water-scarce area of Teknaf.
The project will also improve roads in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char to enhance mobility and connectivity.
Over 1 million displaced people from Myanmar — approximately 75 per cent of whom are women and children — are currently residing in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar. More than 36,000 have been voluntarily relocated to Bhasan Char in Noakhali district.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific, working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together.