Human Health and Environmental Costs and Benefits of Liquefied Petroleum Gas vs. Firewood for Cooking in the Rohingya Refugee Camp, Bangladesh

This policy brief summarises a study on the multi-sectoral benefits and costs of free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution in the Rohingya refugee camp. This study evaluated households newly enrolled in the LPG distribution programme and compared them to households that were already receiving LPG to measure the impact of the LPG distribution programme. Provision of free LPG was associated with reduced deaths and disease due to indoor air pollution, increased carbon storage, improved food security and mental health, and reduced inter-group and domestic conflict.

Long-term provision of LPG to nearly 1 million refugees is a feasible and cost-effective strategy to support the food security, nutrition, health, and safety of refugees while protecting the environment and reducing tension with host communities. These findings support policy and donor decisions on the provision of clean cooking fuel in humanitarian settings.