Sweden-funded Ukrainian sunflower oil has reached Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh under the Grain from Ukraine initiative, marking a significant example of international cooperation in humanitarian support.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks, Ukraine’s Ambassador to India Oleksandr Polishchuk, and France’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet attended a handover ceremony in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday, organised by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
According to a press release issued by the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka, the shipment of 3,000 tonnes of sunflower oil was made possible through a $7 million contribution from Sweden. The fund supported the procurement and transport of Ukrainian oil to Cox’s Bazar as part of the Grain from Ukraine initiative.
WFP will distribute the oil to Rohingya refugees, covering the cooking oil needs of roughly one million people for three months. France is also supporting the initiative, reinforcing the international community’s shared commitment to humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh, the release said.
Beyond its immediate relief impact, the initiative directly supports Ukrainian farmers and families by sustaining agricultural production and livelihoods during wartime. This dual benefit – assisting refugees in Bangladesh while strengthening resilience in Ukraine – highlights the programme’s unique role in combining solidarity with practical outcomes.
“This initiative is unique: it helps meet urgent food needs for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar while supporting Ukrainian farmers and families enduring the immense impact of Russia’s war of aggression. It is solidarity and collaboration in its most practical form,” said Ambassador Weeks at the ceremony.
