The European Union is providing €200,000 in humanitarian funding to support people affected by severe monsoon rains in Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts in Bangladesh, benefiting 125,000 Rohingya refugees and vulnerable host communities. The funding, announced on 4 August 2026 by the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, will support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in providing emergency shelter materials, repairing damaged shelters, restoring water and sanitation facilities, distributing seeds and gardening supplies, and offering cash assistance. Women, girls and those facing heightened protection risks will receive dignity items, information and referral support, while cash-for-work schemes will help restore landslide protection. The operation also includes training for communities to better prepare for floods, landslides and other emergencies.
The funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), under a €12 million humanitarian delegation agreement. Since 5 July, intense rainfall linked to a monsoon depression has triggered flooding and landslides in Chattogram Division. As of 13 July, over 1.1 million people were affected, with 30 deaths and more than 38,000 displaced. The rains damaged shelters, water and sanitation facilities, access routes and other essential infrastructure in the Rohingya refugee camps and surrounding host communities, with over 4,300 shelters and hundreds of water and sanitation facilities reported damaged in the camps alone.
The EU's response underscores its role as the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid, with assistance delivered through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department. The funding aims to address immediate needs while also building longer-term resilience among affected communities. The operation will have a moderate positive impact on the 125,000 beneficiaries, particularly the most vulnerable groups, by restoring basic services and livelihoods. However, the scale of the disaster, affecting over a million people, means the funding covers only a fraction of the overall needs, leaving many affected families without direct support. The EU's contribution also strengthens the capacity of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and the IFRC's DREF mechanism, which allows for rapid disbursement of funds to national societies in emergencies. The training component aims to reduce future vulnerability, though its effectiveness will depend on sustained investment and community engagement.