In crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees have expressed concern over the United States' decision to cut food rations in half starting next month. A refugee affairs official stated that the cuts will impact the nutritional status of over one million refugees. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also announced that food rations in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, will be reduced from April 1 due to funding shortages.
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03-12, 2025Dom Scalpelli, the World Food Programme's Country Director in Bangladesh, stated: "Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are completely dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive. Any reduction in food assistance will push them into deeper hunger and force them to take desperate measures to survive." Shamsud Douza, a Bangladeshi official in charge of refugee relief, said that the monthly ration for Rohingya refugees has been reduced from $12.50 (A$20) to $6 (A$9.50).
Douza further explained that this will lead to a reduction in the nutritional value of the food received by refugees, potentially causing malnutrition and creating social and mental stress within the Rohingya community. Refugees will have to look for alternative food sources. A report from the UNHCR last week noted that worsening conditions in Bangladesh are forcing more Rohingya refugees to embark on "desperate" journeys in search of safety.
The UNHCR warned that unseaworthy vessels could lead to shipwrecks and deaths, or severe distress at sea due to lack of necessities such as food and water. The report also noted that cases of malnutrition have been identified, as well as skin diseases and infectious diseases contracted during the journey. In 2024, approximately 9,200 Rohingya refugees have attempted boat journeys, with 657 reported missing or dead at sea.
Chris Lewa, Director of the Arakan Project, stated that the ration cuts will "exacerbate violence, kidnapping and lawlessness within the camps." Matthew Maury, acting CEO of the Australian Council for International Development, said the cuts to food aid were "devastating" for vulnerable people in Cox’s Bazar. He called on the Australian government to assess how it can work with like-minded donors to effectively strengthen support for Rohingya refugees.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that Australia is a "major donor to the Rohingya people in Bangladesh" and has committed more than A$540 million in humanitarian assistance to the country since 2017. "We continue to closely monitor the humanitarian situation in Bangladesh and across our region," the spokesperson added.
Kyaw Win, Executive Director of the Burma Human Rights Network, stated that the international community is "failing the Rohingya refugees when they need support the most." He warned: "These cuts will make it impossible for families to survive on extremely low rations, push children into severe malnutrition, and put thousands at risk of preventable death. The world abandoned the Rohingya once – we cannot let it happen again."
