Sweden-funded Ukrainian sunflower oil arrives for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today handed over 3,000 metric tonnes of sunflower oil from Ukraine to support Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.

The handover ceremony saw the participation of Sweden’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nicolas Weeks, Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, and France’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet.

The delivery was made possible through a USD 7 million contribution from Sweden, which facilitated the procurement and transport of Ukrainian sunflower oil as part of the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

WFP will distribute the oil to Rohingya refugees, meeting the cooking oil needs of approximately one million people for three months. France also supports the initiative, reinforcing the shared commitment to humanitarian assistance.

“This initiative is unique: it addresses urgent food needs for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar while supporting Ukrainian farmers and families affected by Russia’s war of aggression. It demonstrates solidarity and collaboration in its most practical form,” Ambassador Weeks said during the ceremony.

Beyond providing immediate humanitarian relief in Bangladesh, Grain from Ukraine supports Ukrainian farmers and families, helping sustain livelihoods and the agricultural economy during wartime.

The initiative’s dual benefit – strengthening resilience in Ukraine while alleviating global hunger – underscores its practical and symbolic significance.

The handover highlights the partnership between Ukraine, Sweden, France, Bangladesh, and WFP. By integrating Ukrainian agricultural products into global humanitarian supply chains, the programme enhances food security worldwide while sustaining Ukraine’s economy and farming communities under wartime conditions.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Weeks also announced the upcoming disbursement of an additional USD 2.85 million to support cleaner cooking energy for Rohingya refugees, continued environmental rehabilitation, and green skills development for refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.

These activities form part of the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus (SAFE Plus 2) programme, a joint UN initiative that brings together the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and WFP, in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh.

With this latest contribution, Swedish support for SAFE Plus totals USD 23.85 million. Since 2017, Sweden has provided over USD 146.55 million to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.