10 Years of the Rohingya Crisis:
Major Funding Disparity in the Rohingya Crisis: Nearly 90% Goes to UN Agencies, While Local NGOs Receive Only 2%
Cox’s Bazar, 25 August 2026: The Rohingya crisis has completed its ninth year and entered its tenth year. Since 2017, the Government of Bangladesh, national and international NGOs, and UN agencies have been providing vital humanitarian assistance to nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees sheltered in Cox’s Bazar. However, research shows that the majority of funding for the Rohingya humanitarian response is being channeled to UN agencies and international NGOs, raising concerns among local organizations. Speakers raised questions about the allocation of humanitarian funding at a press conference held today at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club, organized by the Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum (CCNF) and COAST Foundation. They said that local organizations are being deprived of a fair share of the funding. At the press conference, titled “Where Is the Funding for the Rohingya Response Going?”, speakers called for greater inclusion of local stakeholders in the Rohingya humanitarian response and demanded meaningful participation of local actors in decision-making and implementation processes.
The event was moderated by Zahangir Alam, Member Secretary of CCNF. Speakers at the press conference included Helal Uddin, Executive Director of local NGO Agrajatra; Nurul Islam Helali, President of Journalist Association Cox’s Bazar; Md. Nurul Islam, President of Cultural Academy; Anjuman Ara of Rokeya Foundation; Md. Shahinur Islam of COAST Foundation; Nurul Kabir of Rajapalong Union Parishad; Momtaz Uddin Bahari, General Secretary of the Cox’s Bazar Press Club; Robiul Alam, President of the Ukhiya Rights Implementation Committee; and Jafar Alam, General Secretary of the Ukhiya Imam Somity. Members of CCNF, as well as journalists from print and electronic media, were also present.
Md. Shahinur Islam presented the research findings. In his presentation, he stated that USD 710.5 million is required to provide assistance to 1.56 million people in 2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP). Of this funding, 87.96% is held by UN agencies, 7.78% by international NGOs, and 4.26% by national NGOs, while local NGOs have no funding as an appealing partner in the JRP. He further stated that, within the funding allocated for the Rohingya camps, 63.6% goes to international NGOs, 33.9% to national NGOs, and only 2.5% to local NGOs. He further shows that of the USD 150 million in funding from the USA, 92% went to UN agencies and 8% to INGOs. All funding is channeled through UN agencies and international NGOs, whose operational costs are also significantly high.
Nurul Kabir said that local people living inside camps areas are receiving no assistance, while Rohingya living nearby are getting all kinds of support. Robiul Alam focuses on environmental protection, surface water preservation and restoration of agricultural lands. Zahangir Alam said that maintaining peaceful coexistence is not possible without a sustainable solution. Jafor Alam said that ASEAN, China, and other regional and international organizations must be more actively involved in resolving this crisis.
Nasir Uddin said there is no progress of repatriation; frustration and uncertainty among the host community continue to grow. He also noted that the Rohingya crisis has significantly affected the education sector in Cox’s Bazar. He emphasized the need for long-term investment in education and skills development for the local population. Anjuman Ara Begum said local NGOs should be meaningfully engaged in humanitarian response efforts. She called for at least 25% of humanitarian funding to be provided directly to local NGOs. Helal Uddin said that local organizations have no access or only very limited access under the current Joint Response Plan and Pooled Fund mechanism. He demanded that local organizations be included as appealing partners in the JRP so they can directly access these funds. Engineer Helal Uddin said that waste from the camps is damaging local farmland. He said that a permanent solution to this problem is needed. Nurul Islam Helali emphasized that funding to local NGOs is not charity, but the right of local organizations. Mamataj Uddin Bahari emphasized the need for an effective and sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
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