Dhaka, March 28, 2018 – In response to a request from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided 622,800 doses of injectable contraceptives to the Government of Bangladesh on March 25, bringing the total contribution from the United States to nearly one million doses valued at $901,232. This latest contribution of injectable contraceptives follows an earlier donation of 292,000 doses delivered in February 2018 and three million sachets of oral rehydration solution delivered in December 2017. Since August 25, 2017, the United States Government has provided more than $110 million to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.

Since August 25, 2017, nearly 700,000 Rohingya people have fled across the border from Burma into Cox’s Bazar, where Rohingya refugees face significant health challenges and limited availability of health products and services. Newborns, children, and pregnant and lactating women are especially susceptible to malnutrition, food insecurity, and infectious disease.

USAID Mission Director Janina Jaruzelski said that “USAID remains committed to helping the most vulnerable Rohingya refugees gain access to essential and life-saving health commodities. This latest contribution could help thousands of families.”

USAID’s support to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh has focused primarily on immediate needs for life-saving food assistance and urgent nutrition services.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $7 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971. In 2017, USAID provided over $212 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh through programs that expand food security and economic opportunity, improve health and education, promote democratic institutions and practices, protect the environment, and increase resiliency to climate change.