UN Chief Visits Rohingya Refugees as Aid Funding Falls Short
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh amid severe funding shortages that could drastically reduce food rations from $12.50 to $6 starting in April. This poses significant threats to food security, particularly with Ramadan approaching. Refugees are expressing fear and desperation regarding their survival and livelihoods.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, recently visited Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh amid alarming aid funding shortages. His visit, which occurred on March 14, 2024, comes as the World Food Programme (WFP) announced potential reductions in food rations from $12.50 to merely $6 per month, effective in April. This drastic reduction raises serious concerns about escalating hunger within overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest settlement for displaced individuals.
During his visit, Guterres highlighted the precarious situation faced by over one million Rohingya refugees, who fled violence in Myanmar. The WFP indicated that funding shortfalls, exacerbated by a broader decline in donations, are responsible for the potential ration cuts, rather than the recent reductions in foreign aid from the United States, which has historically been the leading donor of humanitarian assistance for this crisis.
Many refugees are already expressing desperation. Mohammed Sabir, a 31-year-old who has been in the camps since fleeing Myanmar in 2017, articulated the severity of the situation: “Whatever we are given now is not enough. If that is halved, we are simply going to starve.” Other refugees echo similar sentiments, with concerns about basic survival growing.
The WFP has stated the urgent need for $15 million in April to sustain full rations. With Ramadan approaching, there are heightened anxieties about food security throughout this sacred month. As Bangladesh’s interim government seeks to draw attention to the crisis, Guterres is scheduled to participate in Iftar—a traditional meal that breaks the fast—during his visit, further emphasizing the dire needs of the Rohingya population.
Refugees, including an 80-year-old named Abdur Salam, expressed a desire for adequate resources, stating, “Without work or income, this will have catastrophic consequences.” An overarching plea persists among the refugees: they wish for sufficient food or, failing that, the opportunity to return to their homeland in Myanmar with rights and dignity restored.
The situation for Rohingya refugees remains critical, with significant food rations potentially being slashed due to funding shortages. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ visit highlights the urgent humanitarian needs and the responsibility of the global community in addressing this crisis. As aid agencies urgently call for funds, the welfare of over one million refugees hangs in the balance, underscoring a compelling need for international support and intervention.
Original Source: www.tbsnews.net
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