KHANI Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Food Security Network, has warned that the ongoing reduction in food rations for the Rohingya population could exacerbate the existing humanitarian crisis.
In a petition to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, KHANI urged the global community to address the funding shortfall and fully restore food rations and essential services for the Rohingyas. The petition also called for long-term funding and opportunities for self-sufficiency through proper rehabilitation, reads a press release.
The appeal has been endorsed by more than 110 organisations and individuals worldwide, including FIAN Indonesia, FIAN Switzerland, ActionAid Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar Civil Society Forum (CCNF), and others advocating for human rights and food security.
The World Food Program (WFP) recently announced a funding crisis that may force it to cut food rations for the Rohingyas from $12.50 per person per month to $6. This alarming reduction prompted KHANI Bangladesh to express grave concern, warning of severe consequences for the already dire humanitarian situation.
The petition highlighted that the Rohingya population is entirely dependent on humanitarian aid for food. The situation has worsened, with child malnutrition rates exceeding 15% and severe acute malnutrition increasing by 25% between January 2024 and January 2025, followed by a further 27% rise in February.
KHANI Bangladesh General Secretary Nurul Alam Masud stressed that the international community must take responsibility for ensuring the food security of the Rohingyas until they can leave the camps. He warned that food insecurity could lead to trafficking, border-crossing deaths, and instability within camps and host communities. Masud also emphasized the urgent need for a long-term strategy to ensure the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
Rezaul Karim Siddiqui Rana, Vice President of KHANI Bangladesh, described the reduction in food aid as a betrayal by wealthy nations toward vulnerable populations, warning of the devastating consequences. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Co-Chair of CCNF and Executive Director of COAST Foundation, noted that food is the foundation for all forms of humanitarian relief. He cautioned that insufficient food could disrupt the social order, lead to conflicts within camps, and negatively impact host communities by displacing local laborers with Rohingyas willing to work for lower wages.
KHANI Bangladesh called on the global community to act immediately to prevent a humanitarian disaster, emphasizing the importance of food and nutrition aid for Rohingya refugees.
KHANI Bangladesh is a national network comprising over 50 organizations working on food security, rights, and agricultural issues across the country.
