More than a million people in the world's largest refugee camp in Bangladesh face a potential food crisis, with United Nations officials warning that food rations may drop significantly in April.
Currently, refugees receive about 18 pounds of rice, two pounds of lentils, a liter of cooking oil, and a small amount of salt per person for the entire month. This reduction comes amid a humanitarian response overwhelmed by the Trump administration's freeze on aid, which has left organizations scrambling to fill the gap left by the U.S., traditionally a major donor. Additionally, many European nations are cutting humanitarian aid to increase military spending in response to geopolitical tensions.
U.N. Secretary General António Guterres highlighted the severity of the situation during a visit to the Rohingya refugee camp, stating that announced cuts in financial assistance could lead to only 40 percent of the resources available for humanitarian aid in 2025 compared to 2024. He warned that such a scenario would result in significant suffering and loss of life.
The Cox's Bazar camp, home to over a million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar due to ethnic cleansing, is heavily reliant on humanitarian aid for basic needs such as education, water, sanitation, nutrition, and medical care. Guterres emphasized that budget cuts have real human costs, particularly in a camp where the impact of funding reductions is starkly visible.
Currently, over 15 percent of children in the camp are acutely malnourished, the highest level since the influx of refugees began in 2017. A previous funding shortfall that reduced the monthly food allowance to $8 led to increased malnutrition and crime, prompting some refugees to attempt dangerous boat journeys to escape the camp.
During Guterres's visit, U.N. officials displayed sample food baskets to illustrate the drastic reduction in rations, projecting a drop to $6 per person for April unless additional funding is secured. The U.S. has recently unfrozen its in-kind contributions, which will help provide some food supplies, but cash contributions remain halted.
Refugees, including 23-year-old Abul Osman, expressed concern that further cuts to rations would be catastrophic for a population already struggling to survive without livelihood options. Pregnant women and children are expected to be the most affected by food shortages, leading to broader mental health crises.
Guterres attended an Iftar meal organized by the Bangladeshi government for 100,000 Rohingya refugees, alongside Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to show solidarity with the refugees. However, the event turned tragic when at least one refugee was killed and five others injured in a crowd rush.
While the immediate focus is on food aid, officials are also concerned that cuts are impacting all aspects of the humanitarian response. The camp is vulnerable to fires, disease, and flooding, and preparations for the upcoming monsoon season have been disrupted due to the aid freeze. Sumbul Rizvi, head of the U.N.'s refugee agency in Bangladesh, expressed concern about the potential consequences of extreme weather events this year.