Funding cuts threaten Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, aid groups warn

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face worsening food insecurity as the World Food Programme (WFP) prepares to reduce monthly aid due to funding shortages, Amnesty International warned ahead of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ visit.

The planned cuts will reduce food rations to $6 per person per month, affecting nearly one million refugees in Cox’s Bazar. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that 95% of Rohingya households rely on humanitarian assistance, with many already struggling to meet basic nutritional needs.

Aid organizations fear the reductions will worsen malnutrition, particularly among children, pregnant women, and the elderly. UNICEF data from February 2025 showed a 27% rise in children requiring treatment for acute malnutrition compared to the previous year.