In the lead-up to World Refugee Day, the Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E. Nicolas Weeks, has announced an additional contribution of USD 2.1 million (Tk 25.7 crore) to bolster humanitarian and environmental efforts for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.

The funding will support phase two of the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus (SAFE+2) programme, a joint initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and World Food Programme (WFP), in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh.

The contribution aims to expand access to cleaner cooking energy, rehabilitate degraded environments, and promote green skills among both refugees and host populations. Ambassador Weeks emphasized the urgent need to prioritize life-saving interventions amid declining global aid.

“With drastically decreasing funds, we need to prioritize those with the most severe needs and focus on saving lives, while upholding achievements made over the past few years,” Weeks said. “This contribution will allow refugees to continue cooking with cleaner fuel, preserving the forest and their health.”

Since the SAFE+ programme's inception in 2019, Sweden has played a key role in its success. The initiative has facilitated the distribution of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and fuel-efficient stoves, leading to a significant reduction in firewood dependency.

Over 2,300 hectares of forest have been rehabilitated, stabilizing the landscape and mitigating the risk of landslides.

Additionally, the shift from firewood to LPG has protected more than 14,500 hectares of forest and prevented over 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

With this latest pledge, Sweden’s total contribution to SAFE+ now stands at USD 21 million (Tk 256.3 crore). Since 2017, Sweden has provided more than USD 136.7 million (Tk 1,667 crore) in support of Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.

Reflecting on the ongoing crisis, Ambassador Weeks expressed concern over the diminishing hope among the Rohingya community.

“After nearly eight years in exile, rapidly decreasing financial resources and in the absence of an immediate resolution and peace in Rakhine state, I am deeply concerned that hope among the Rohingya community is fading,” he said. “This World Refugee Day, I would like to let refugees know that we see you. You are not forgotten. You are not alone.”

Sweden’s continued support underscores its commitment to humanitarian principles, environmental sustainability, and solidarity with displaced communities.

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