USAID Launches Initiative for Rohingya-Affected Communities

In a significant move to bolster support for communities grappling with the Rohingya refugee crisis, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Tracey Jacobson and Honorable Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan officially launched the USAID Host and Impacted Community Resilience Activity on Monday.

This initiative, implemented by the local NGO Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB), aims to uplift the livelihoods of Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts—regions profoundly impacted by the refugee influx.

Central to the program is a focus on job skills training and enhancing economic opportunities, alongside improving access to essential services such as safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Beyond addressing immediate needs, the initiative seeks to fortify the resilience of host communities, equipping them to better withstand the natural disasters that frequently threaten the area.

Collaboration will be key as local authorities, host communities, and displaced populations unite to protect over 35,000 hectares of land, ensuring the conservation of critical natural resources. This effort represents a pivotal step toward fostering long-term stability and sustainable development in regions affected by the refugee crisis, while promoting cooperation between displaced individuals and their host communities.