The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews made an urgent appeal to Member States today to reverse “the shameful, catastrophic cuts” to food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh that began to be implemented on 1st March.
“These rations cuts are a stain on the conscience of the international community,” said Andrews. “I have spoken with desperate families in the camps who have already had to cut back on essential food items due to a spike in prices. Reversing these cuts in food aid is literally a matter of life and death for Rohingya families,” the Special Rapporteur said.
“Many UN Member States have offered rhetorical support for the Rohinyga. But Rohingya families cannot eat political rhetoric. It is past time for UN Member States to replace empty declarations of support with lifesaving action,” Andrews said.
“Unless they are quickly reversed, the impact of these cuts will be catastrophic and long-lasting,” he said.
The UN expert issued the plea in a letter to UN member states to what could be a series of cuts in food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangaldesh by the World Food Programme (WFP).
The cuts could exceed 30 percent of current allocations to Rohingya refugees.
