The operator of Japan's Uniqlo clothing chain and a key United Nations agency are teaming up to help refugee women in Bangladesh learn sewing skills and boost their self-reliance.

Fast Retailing's Yanai Tadashi said, "More than 100 million people around the world, women and children in particular, are really suffering."

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said, "We need additional resources and additional partners, not just among governments but also from other actors, including the private sector."

Fast Retailing and the UNHCR announced the project to offer sewing training to female Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. They have been fleeing for a camp in southeastern Bangladesh, mainly since 2017.
The women are expected to be paid to make items such as cloth sanitary napkins. The two parties aim to have a total of 1,000 people take part in the project through 2025.

The UNHCR says more than 940,000 Rohingya are at the camp. Supporting them to become independent and find jobs remains a challenge.