Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has made of (a) opportunities for self-reliance and (b) access to education and livelihoods for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

We are in regular dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh, and international and local partners on how to improve the opportunities for Rohingya refugees to lead more fulfilling and meaningful lives, now and in the future. Education and livelihoods are an important part of this. The International Development Secretary discussed the Rohingya crisis with the Bangladesh Government in Dhaka in February, including the need to improve refugees’ access to education, skills and livelihoods. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific held similar discussions with the Government during his visit in April.

We are funding UNICEF, both directly and through Education Cannot Wait, to increase the learning opportunities for refugee children and adolescents. We are also assisting centres that provide training in skills and entrepreneurship, particularly for women.