UN Warns Rohingya Refugee Support in Bangladesh Faces Collapse Amid Funding Shortfall
UN Warns Rohingya Refugee Support in Bangladesh Faces Collapse Amid Funding Shortfall
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The United Nations refugee agency has issued a grave warning that essential services for over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are at risk of collapse due to severe funding shortages, Reuters reported. The UNHCR’s appeal for $255 million to sustain humanitarian aid has received only 35% of the required funds.
Most Rohingya fled Myanmar’s military crackdown in 2017 and are now housed in the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar. UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch highlighted the critical gap between needs and available resources, stressing that daily food, health, and education services depend heavily on humanitarian support.
Funding cuts from major Western donors, including the U.S., have worsened the crisis, as defense priorities shift amid geopolitical tensions. Without additional funds, health services could be disrupted by September, and food assistance might cease by December.
In the past 18 months, 150,000 more Rohingya have arrived, fleeing ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. This recent influx marks the largest since the 2017 exodus, underscoring the urgent need for sustained international aid.
