Canada has announced a contribution of CAD 10 million on Sunday to support the supply of clean and sustainable cooking fuel for nearly 12 lakh Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar camps in Bangladesh.
The funding will be channelled through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to ensure continued distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a key necessity for cooking in the densely populated camps.
According to officials, the initiative is aimed not only at meeting basic energy needs but also at protecting the fragile environment of Cox’s Bazar and improving safety, health and dignity - particularly for women and children.
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh said the support reflects Canada’s continued commitment to the Rohingya response, noting that the programme will help reduce deforestation, carbon emissions and risks associated with firewood collection.
Cox’s Bazar, one of the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions, faces frequent natural hazards including floods, landslides and cyclones. Since the introduction of LPG in the camps in 2018, firewood use among refugees has dropped significantly, helping cut carbon emissions and protect local forests.
UNHCR and IOM officials welcomed the contribution, describing it as timely support for one of the world’s most prolonged refugee crises.
They said access to safe and reliable cooking fuel has improved living conditions, reduced health risks and helped preserve biodiversity in surrounding areas.
Canada’s contribution will support LPG access for some 2,43,500 refugee households and help conserve up to 10,700 hectares of protected forest in Cox’s Bazar. The funding is also expected to strengthen community resilience by stabilising slopes, reducing landslide risks and lowering human wildlife conflict around ecologically sensitive areas.
