credit - actionagainst hunger
More than 1 million Rohingya refugees living in sprawling camps in southern Bangladesh are bracing for severe hardship as humanitarian aid faces potential cuts. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned that if funds are not secured, it will be forced to halve monthly food rations from $12.50 to just $6 starting in April.
The crisis stems from global aid reductions, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump’s decree to freeze most foreign aid. Although no official cuts have been made yet, the uncertainty has left aid agencies scrambling for resources. The Rohingya refugees, who fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar, have been entirely dependent on international assistance for survival.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who recently visited Cox’s Bazar, criticized the U.S. and European nations for slashing aid budgets, calling the potential cuts a “crime” against vulnerable communities. He urged the global community to continue supporting the refugees, warning that any reduction in funding could lead to malnutrition and a humanitarian catastrophe.
Despite support from USAID, Bangladesh’s government, and various NGOs, aid workers fear the looming cuts will disproportionately affect women and children. WFP spokesperson Kun Li confirmed that without new funding, food assistance will be significantly reduced starting in April.
