UN halve Rohingya Food Assistance in Bangladesh in the midst of funding Crunch | Rohingya News

United Nations warned that they would be forced to halve meals at about a million Rohingye refugees in Bangladesh since next month due to lack of funds.

The World Food Program (WFP) said in a letter on Wednesday that “serious funding disadvantages” force the decrease in monthly food vouchers from $ 12.50 to $ 6 per person.

“Unfortunately, we still have not received enough funds, and the cost of saving costs is not sufficient,” the letter said.

Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh’s best official who monitored Rohingye refugee camps, confirmed the cutting of assistance.

“I received a letter confirmed by a reduction of $ 6.50, which will take effect from April 1,” said the Commissioner for help and repatriation in Bangladesh.

“What they are receiving now is not enough, so it’s hard to imagine the consequences of this new cut,” he told Reuters news agency.

The WFP announcement comes days before the visit of UN Secretary-General Antoni Guterres, who is scheduled to meet with Rhingye refugees to mark the Muslim post of Ramadan.

Bangladesh prone to more than a million Rohingye, members of a persecuted Muslim minority who fled in violence in neighboring Mjanmar, mostly in 2016 and 2017. They live in cluttered camps in the southern Cox’s Bazar district, where they have limited access to work and education capabilities.

Increased reductions in help have already caused severe difficulties among Rohingye refugees, which rely on help and suffer from angry malnutrition.

Bangladesh struggled to support refugees because the chances of returning to the wholesale of Mjanmar or moved elsewhere removed.

Nay San Lwin, co -founder of the Free Rohingya coalition, said that the food for food for food was a “death penalty” for ROHINGYE refugees, but withstanding very difficult situations.

“WFP should emphasize a reduction in administrative costs and other costs, at the same time increasing refugee quotas to get rescue support,” he told Al Jazeera.

“International donors should prioritize efforts to save life instead of spending funds for other purposes.”

The risk of hunger, illness

The gap in financing is due to a major lack of donations, not the decision of President Donald Trump’s administration in the United States to reduce his side aid globally, WFP said, adding that American food support for Rohingyi’s assistance continued.

But the decision of Trump’s administration to suddenly stop most of the US side help will affect the healthcare institutions in the campsites.

Rahman said that Washington’s cuts mean “a grip on surgery” at the Rohingye and waste management camps and five hospitals funded by the USA had to reduce services. He said the food would be reduced, it would create a “serious problem”.

“These people are without citizenship, unhappy and should not suffer because of a crumb of financing,” Rahman said.

The US has contributed more than 50 percent of Rhingya’s 2024 humanitarian response, about $ 300 million, Rahman said last month.

UN -High Refugee Commissioner Filippo Grandi said he fears that the reduction of donors’ support will bring life at risk.

“If the donors’ support is dramatically reduced – what can happen – the big job done by the Bangladeski government, will be influenced by agencies for help and refugees, which will endanger the hunger, illness and insecurity,” Grandi published on X.

The previous circle of meals in Rohingje 2023, which reduced the amount of food meals to 8 USD a month, led to a sudden increase in hunger and malnutrition, according to the UN.

In a few months, 90 percent of the population in the camp “struggled to approach an adequate diet”, and more than 15 percent of children suffer from failure to be released, which is the highest rate recorded. The cut was later reversed.

On Monday, the European Commission announced the distribution of 76 million euros ($ 79.4 million) humanitarian aid for Rhingye refugees and other conflict in Mjanmar.

“The EU is firmly standing with Rhingye refugees in Bangladesh, just as we have been in the last seven years,” said EU Hadja Lahbib Commissioner.

“Since the conflict is still raging in Rakhina and through Mjanmar, their safe and dignified return remains out of reach,” said Lahbib, who visited refugee camps at Cox Bazar on Monday.