The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised concerns about a severe funding shortage that threatens its emergency response efforts in Bangladesh, putting food assistance for over one million Rohingya refugees at risk.

If immediate funding is not secured, monthly food rations will have to be reduced to US$6 per person, down from the current US$12.50 per person. This reduction comes at a crucial time as refugees prepare to observe Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan. Rohingya refugees currently receive food vouchers, which they can use at designated retailers within the camps. To continue providing full rations, WFP urgently needs US$15 million for April and US$81 million to sustain operations through the end of 2025.

“The Rohingya refugee crisis remains one of the world’s most prolonged and large-scale humanitarian challenges,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP’s Country Director for Bangladesh. “Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh rely entirely on humanitarian aid for survival. Any further cuts in food assistance will push them deeper into hunger and force them to take desperate measures just to stay alive.”

In recent months, an increasing number of Rohingya, possibly exceeding 100,000 people, have fled Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh due to ongoing conflict. This continuous influx of refugees has placed an even greater burden on already stretched resources.

WFP has already begun informing the Rohingya community about the possible reduction in food rations. This announcement comes during Ramadan, a sacred time for Muslims worldwide, including the majority of Rohingya refugees, which is observed as a period of solidarity and mutual support.

“Now more than ever, the Rohingya need our support,” Scalpelli emphasized. “These families have nowhere else to turn, and WFP’s food aid is a critical lifeline. Without urgent funding, this crisis will only worsen.”

In 2023, due to significant funding constraints, WFP was forced to reduce food rations from US$12 to US$8 per person per month. This led to a severe decline in food intake and resulted in malnutrition rates among children exceeding 15 percent—surpassing emergency levels. When additional funding was received, rations were temporarily increased.

For a refugee population with no legal recognition, restricted movement outside the camps, and no stable livelihood options, further ration cuts will heighten protection and security risks. As seen in 2023, women and girls could face greater threats of exploitation, trafficking, forced prostitution, and domestic violence. Families may be forced to pull children out of school, leading to an increase in child labor, and girls may be married off at an early age as families struggle to survive.

Refugee communities worldwide are often among the first to experience reductions in aid, despite being some of the most vulnerable populations. With funding shortages increasing and humanitarian needs growing, the Rohingya and many other displaced communities are left with even fewer resources to sustain themselves.

BDST: 1950 HRS, March 07, 2025
MSK