The UN agencies have warned of a severe crisis for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh if funding decreases. They have launched a joint multi-year funding appeal seeking $934.5 million to assist 1.48 million people in need. The warning follows potential cuts to food aid by the World Food Programme, attributed to reduced global donations and suspected U.S. aid reductions. Over one million Rohingya live in Bangladesh, facing dire conditions and limited resources.

On Monday, two United Nations agencies issued a critical warning regarding the impact of reduced global funding on Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration highlighted the severe consequences that could ensue from diminished aid, especially in food and educational support. This appeal comes as they launched their first joint multi-year funding request to assist those affected, who have fled violence from Myanmar over the past eight years.

The UN agencies emphasized that any shortfall in essential funding, particularly regarding food assistance, cooking fuel, or basic shelter, would have dire repercussions for this already vulnerable population. They cautioned that a lack of resources may compel many refugees to undertake perilous boat journeys in search of safety elsewhere.

A collaborative initiative between the UN agencies and 113 partners aims to secure $934.5 million in funding for the first year of the 2025-2026 appeal, intending to assist approximately 1.48 million individuals in Bangladesh, which includes both Rohingya refugees and host communities.

In March, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) signaled possible cuts to food rations for Rohingya refugees due to a significant reduction in donations, coinciding with the cessation of USAID operations. While the WFP clarified that this reduction stemmed from overall shortfalls in donations, a senior Bangladeshi official suggested that U.S. funding cuts likely contributed to the situation, given that the U.S. has historically been the primary donor for aid to Rohingya refugees.

Currently, Bangladesh harbors over one million Rohingya, who escaped violent persecution in Myanmar primarily during the crises of 2016 and 2017. They are situated in camps around Cox’s Bazar, where they face significant limitations concerning employment and education access. Notably, approximately 70,000 individuals fled to Bangladesh last year due to escalating hunger in their home state of Rakhine, as reported by Reuters.

The UN agencies’ critical funding appeal underscores the pressing need for international support to assist Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. With essential resources dwindling, there is a genuine risk of severe humanitarian crises that could drive vulnerable individuals to seek safety through dangerous means. The situation is exacerbated by previous cuts in aid, particularly from the United States, which has historically played a pivotal role in donor contributions for Rohingya support. Immediate action is crucial to address this humanitarian emergency.

Original Source: stratnewsglobal.com

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