Cox’s Bazar: The United Nations will make every effort to prevent food ration cuts for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Friday during a visit to the world’s largest refugee settlement.
Guterres traveled to Cox’s Bazar, a border district in southern Bangladesh, amid concerns following the UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) announcement of potential reductions in food aid due to funding shortages. Bangladesh currently shelters over one million Rohingya refugees—members of a persecuted Muslim minority who fled violence in neighboring Myanmar—in overcrowded camps with minimal access to employment and education.
Guterres highlighted that “dramatic” cuts in humanitarian aid from the United States and European nations posed a significant risk to food rations in the camps.
“I will be talking to all countries in the world that can support us in order to make sure that funds are made available to avoid a situation in which people would suffer even more,” he said.
The WFP has warned that food rations for Rohingya refugees could be reduced from $12.50 to $6 per month starting in April due to financial constraints. Aid organizations fear that such cuts would exacerbate hunger in the already overcrowded settlements.
“My voice will speak loud to the international community, saying we need urgently more support because this population badly needs that support to be able to live in dignity here in Bangladesh,” Guterres emphasized.
During his visit, Guterres was accompanied by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. He described Cox’s Bazar as “ground zero” for the impact of budget cuts on vulnerable populations.
“UN agencies—as well as many humanitarian and development NGOs—are confronting the prospect of enormous funding cuts. This will have a direct and dire impact on people,” he cautioned.
Calls for Repatriation and Global Assistance
As Guterres addressed the crisis, tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees participated in an Iftar meal, marking the daily breaking of fast during Ramadan. Many carried placards reading, “UN, take us back to our home!” and “We are Rohingya, not Stateless!”
The WFP recently clarified that the funding shortfall stems from a global decline in donations rather than specific cuts by the U.S. government. However, a senior Bangladeshi official told Reuters that reductions in U.S. foreign aid may have contributed, as the U.S. has been the largest donor to Rohingya relief efforts.
Refugees expressed deep concern over the prospect of reduced food aid. “Whatever we are given now is not enough. If that’s halved, we are simply going to starve,” said Mohammed Sabir, a 31-year-old refugee who fled Myanmar in 2017.
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Rohingya Fear Being Forgotten
Since 2016 and 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have sought refuge in Bangladesh. According to Reuters, approximately 70,000 more fled Myanmar in the past year, driven by worsening conditions in Rakhine state, including food shortages.
“We are not allowed to work here. I feel helpless when I think of my children. What will I feed them?” said Sabir, a father of five. “I hope we are not forgotten. The global community must come forward to help.”
The WFP estimates that it requires $15 million in April alone to sustain full food rations for the refugees. The looming reductions are particularly alarming as they coincide with the final days of Ramadan, a time of increased food insecurity for fasting families.
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Bangladesh’s interim government hopes that Guterres’ visit will draw greater international attention to the crisis and mobilize additional aid.
“Without work or income, this will have catastrophic consequences,” said 80-year-old refugee Abdur Salam. “What kind of life is this? If you can’t give us enough food, please send us back to our homeland. We want to return to Myanmar with our rights.”
