Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh – The United Nations has issued a stark warning that it will be forced to halve food rations for approximately one million Rohingya refugees residing in camps in Bangladesh, effective from next month, due to a critical shortage of funding. The World Food Programme (WFP) announced this drastic measure in a formal letter on Wednesday, citing "severe funding shortfalls" that necessitate a reduction in monthly food vouchers from $12.50 to a mere $6 per person.
"Unfortunately, we have still not received sufficient funding, and cost-saving measures alone are not enough," the WFP stated in its letter, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, the Bangladeshi official overseeing the Rohingya refugee camps, confirmed the impending cut. "I received the letter confirming a $6.50 cut, which will take effect from April 1," Rahman stated. "What they are receiving now is already not enough, so it’s hard to imagine the consequences of this new cut," he told Reuters news agency via telephone.
The WFP's announcement comes at a particularly sensitive time, just days before a scheduled visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Guterres is expected to meet with Rohingya refugees during his visit, coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, further highlighting the precarious humanitarian situation.
Bangladesh currently shelters over one million Rohingya refugees, a Muslim minority group who fled persecution and violent crackdowns in neighboring Myanmar, primarily during 2016 and 2017. These refugees live in densely populated camps in the southern district of Cox's Bazar, where they face severe limitations on access to employment opportunities and formal education.
The Rohingya crisis originated from decades of discrimination and persecution in Myanmar, where they have been denied citizenship and basic rights. The mass exodus to Bangladesh in 2017 followed a brutal military campaign that the UN has described as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing."
The reduction in food assistance is expected to have devastating consequences for the refugees, who are already heavily reliant on aid for survival. Malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women, is a significant concern. The cuts could exacerbate existing health issues and lead to increased vulnerability to disease.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for increased international support to address the needs of the Rohingya refugees. However, funding has consistently fallen short of the required levels, leading to recurring crises.
The upcoming visit by UN Secretary-General Guterres is anticipated to draw renewed attention to the plight of the Rohingya and the urgent need for sustained international assistance. The WFP and other humanitarian agencies are appealing to donor countries to step up their contributions to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the refugee camps.
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