UN chief vows to ‘speak loud’ to avert ration cuts for Rohingya in Bangladesh

COX’S BAZAR - The United Nations will do all it can to help prevent food rations from being cut for Rohingyas in camps in Bangladesh, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on March 14 during a visit to the world’s largest refugee settlement.

Mr Guterres visited the border district of Cox’s Bazar in southern Bangladesh after the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced potential cuts to food rations for the Rohingya refugees following the shutdown of USAid operations.

Bangladesh is sheltering over one million Rohingya – members of a persecuted Muslim minority who fled violent purges in neighbouring Myanmar – in camps in the Cox’s Bazar district, where they have limited access to jobs or education.

Mr Guterres said “dramatic” cuts in humanitarian aid announced by the United States and European countries meant there was a risk of food rations to the camp being reduced.

“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,” Mr Guterres said.

The WFP said it may reduce food rations for the Rohingya people from US$12.50 (S$16.70) to US$6 per month from April because of a lack of funding, raising fears among aid workers of rising hunger in the overcrowded camps.

“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,” Mr Guterres said.

The WFP said this month the reduction was due to a broad shortfall in donations, not a decision by US President Donald Trump’s administration to cut US foreign aid globally, including USAid.

But a senior Bangladeshi official told Reuters the US cuts likely played a role as the US has been the top donor for Rohingya refugee aid.

“Whatever we are given now is not enough. If that’s halved, we are simply going to starve,” said Mr Mohammed Sabir, a 31-year-old refugee from Myanmar who has lived in the camps since fleeing violence in 2017.

Many Rohingya people fled to Bangladesh in 2016 and 2017. About 70,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh in 2024, driven in part by growing hunger in their home state of Rakhine, Reuters has reported.

“We are not allowed to work here. I feel helpless when I think of my children. What will I feed them?” said Mr Sabir, a father of five. “I hope we are not forgotten. The global community must come forward to help.”

The WFP has said it requires US$15 million in April to maintain full rations for the refugees. But fears are growing about the impact on food security during the holy month of Ramadan, which this year ends in the last days of March.

Bangladesh’s interim government hopes Mr Guterres’ visit will help draw international attention to the crisis and mobilise aid.

Mr Guterres was also due to take part in a breaking of fast with refugees during iftar, accompanied by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government.

“Without work or income, this will have catastrophic consequences,” 80-year-old refugee Abdur Salam said of the food ration cuts. “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.” REUTERS