The United Nations has warned that it will likely be pressured to halve rations for about a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from subsequent month because of a scarcity of funds.
The World Meals Programme (WFP) mentioned in a letter on Wednesday that “extreme funding shortfalls” are forcing a minimize in month-to-month meals vouchers from $12.50 to $6 per individual.
“Sadly, we’ve got nonetheless not obtained enough funding, and cost-saving measures alone will not be sufficient,” the letter mentioned.
Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh’s high official overseeing Rohingya refugee camps, confirmed the slashing of the help.
“I obtained the letter confirming a $6.50 minimize, which is able to take impact from April 1,” the Bangladesh refugee aid and repatriation commissioner mentioned.
“What they’re receiving now could be already not sufficient, so it’s onerous to think about the implications of this new minimize,” he instructed the Reuters information company by telephone.
The WFP announcement comes days earlier than a go to by UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres, who’s slated to satisfy Rohingya refugees to mark the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Bangladesh is sheltering multiple million Rohingya, members of a persecuted Muslim minority who fled violent purges in neighbouring Myanmar largely in 2016 and 2017. They dwell in overcrowded camps within the southern district of Cox’s Bazar, the place they’ve restricted entry to job alternatives and schooling.
Successive support cuts have already brought on extreme hardship among the many Rohingya refugees, who’re reliant on support and endure from rampant malnutrition.
Bangladesh has struggled to assist the refugees because the prospects of a wholesale return to Myanmar or resettlement elsewhere are distant.
Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, mentioned the meals voucher minimize is “a dying sentence” for the Rohingya refugees, already enduring very dire conditions.
“WFP ought to emphasise decreasing administrative prices and different bills whereas growing quotas for refugees to obtain lifesaving assist,” he instructed Al Jazeera.
“Worldwide donors ought to prioritise life-saving efforts as an alternative of spending funds on different functions.”
Threat of starvation, illness
The funding hole is because of a broad shortfall in donations quite than a choice by President Donald Trump’s administration in america to chop its international support globally, the WFP mentioned, including that US assist for meals support for the Rohingya has continued.
However the choice by the Trump administration to abruptly halt most US international support will impression well being services within the camps.
Rahman mentioned the cuts by Washington imply a “squeeze on operations” at hospitals within the Rohingya camps and in waste administration and 5 US-funded hospitals have needed to scale back companies. He mentioned if meals had been to be lowered, it will create a “grievous drawback”.
“These persons are stateless, ill-fated and shouldn’t be struggling as a result of funding crunch,” Rahman mentioned.
The US contributed greater than 50 p.c of the funds for the Rohingya humanitarian response in 2024, about $300m, Rahman mentioned final month.
UN Excessive Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Friday mentioned he feared a lower in donor assist would put the lives of hundreds in danger.
“If donor assist decreases dramatically – which can occur – the massive work completed by the Bangladesh authorities, support companies and refugees might be impacted, placing hundreds liable to starvation, illness and insecurity,” Grandi posted on X.
A earlier spherical of ration cuts to Rohingya in 2023, which lowered the quantity of meals rations to $8 month-to-month, led to a pointy enhance in starvation and malnutrition, based on the UN.
Inside months, they mentioned, 90 p.c of the camp inhabitants “struggled to entry an sufficient food regimen” and greater than 15 p.c of youngsters suffered from malnutrition, the very best price recorded. The minimize was later reversed.
On Monday, the European Fee introduced the allocation of 76 million euros ($79.4m) in humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees and others affected by battle in Myanmar.
“The EU stands firmly with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, simply as we’ve got for the previous seven years,” EU Disaster Commissioner Hadja Lahbib mentioned.
“With battle nonetheless raging in Rakhine State and throughout Myanmar, their protected and dignified return stays out of attain,” mentioned Lahbib, who visited refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on Monday.
