The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has signed a $2.5 million cooperation agreement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for Rohingya refugees living in camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

The agreement was signed at KSrelief headquarters in Riyadh by the center's Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs, Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Beez, and IOM Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Othman Fouad Al-Belbisi.

The project aims to strengthen access to safe and sustainable water and sanitation facilities through a broad package of infrastructure upgrades. It includes improving 10 water supply networks, modernising solar-powered systems and establishing a laboratory equipped with advanced technology to monitor water and wastewater quality, according to a Sabq report.

The initiative will also expand sanitation services by installing six new decentralized wastewater treatment systems, rehabilitating 34 existing facilities and constructing seven sludge transport networks. Around 240 accessible toilets will be renovated, while a plastic recycling plant will be established to convert plastic waste into products such as paving tiles and manhole covers.

In addition, the project will rehabilitate 896 tube wells, install 100 handwashing stations and distribute 45,000 water containers, 23,400 colour-coded waste bins and 65,000 personal hygiene kits. Training programmes will also be provided for staff and refugee community members on water management, water quality monitoring, sludge management and solid waste management.

KSrelief said the project is expected to directly benefit 206,624 Rohingya refugees and indirectly support another 9,542 people in the camps.

The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's broader humanitarian assistance through KSrelief, aimed at improving living conditions for displaced and vulnerable communities around the world.

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