The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a drastic reduction in its food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, cutting monthly rations from $12.50 to $6 per person starting in April.
The decision raises fears of severe food insecurity across the camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhashan Char, where over 1.1 million Rohingyas reside.
“What they are receiving now is already insufficient. It is difficult to fathom the consequences of this further cut,” said Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.
Speaking to Reuters, he confirmed receiving official notification of the reduction on Wednesday (5 March), following prior verbal communication.
A spokesperson for the WFP in Dhaka did not respond to requests for comment.
The decision comes amid the termination of USAID funding worldwide by the Trump administration.
While initial assurances in January suggested emergency food aid would remain unaffected, WFP’s letter to Bangladesh authorities did not clarify whether the cuts were linked to the US decision.
However, Rahman noted that the US has historically been the largest donor to the Rohingya response, making the funding cut a likely factor.
The US Embassy in Dhaka has yet to comment on the matter.
In a letter to the Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC), WFP stated that despite efforts to secure additional funding, it had failed to find donors to sustain the previous ration level of $12.50 per month.
A reduction beyond $6 per month would “fall below the minimum survival level and fail to meet basic dietary needs,” the agency warned, acknowledging that Rohingyas are entirely reliant on humanitarian aid.
It also noted that the cuts could exacerbate tensions within the camps as families struggle to meet basic nutritional requirements.
A similar reduction in food aid in 2023 triggered a sharp rise in malnutrition, with 90% of camp residents struggling to access an adequate diet and over 15% of children suffering from severe malnutrition—the highest rate recorded.
The cuts were later reversed.
The lack of employment opportunities within the camps has already forced many Rohingya youths to seek work outside, sometimes getting involved in drug and human trafficking.
An official at the RRRC office called on Bangladesh authorities to engage the international community urgently, warning that without immediate intervention, the humanitarian crisis could spiral further out of control.
