U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visits Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh amid critical funding shortfalls that threaten food rations. The World Food Programme may reduce monthly rations from $12.50 to $6, raising alarms of worsening hunger. Over one million refugees in Cox’s Bazar face dire living conditions, with renewed calls for international assistance and attention to the crisis.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, to meet with Rohingya refugees, as they face severe cuts to food rations amid a significant funding shortfall. This visit, which marks Guterres’ second trip to Bangladesh, comes in light of the U.N. World Food Programme’s (WFP) announcement that food rations could be slashed from $12.50 to a mere $6 per month starting in April due to insufficient donations.

The anticipated ration cuts have prompted concern among aid workers regarding an increase in hunger and deteriorating conditions within the world’s largest refugee settlement. Mohammed Sabir, a refugee from Myanmar, expressed anxiety about the potential impact, stating, “Whatever we are given now is not enough. If that’s halved, we are simply going to starve.” The WFP attributed this decision to a general funding shortfall, while a Bangladeshi official suggested the decrease in U.S. foreign aid might have influenced the situation.

Currently, over one million Rohingya refugees are living in Cox’s Bazar, having fled violence in Myanmar. Many refugees, including Sabir, noted the despair over being unable to work and provide for their families. With roughly 70,000 new arrivals entering Bangladesh last year due to rising hunger in their native Rakhine state, the situation has only become more pressing.

The WFP is seeking $15 million this April to maintain the food rations but has raised alarms about the effects on food security during Ramadan, which ends in late March. Furthermore, Bangladesh’s interim government hopes that Guterres’ visit can highlight the urgency of the crisis and encourage international aid. In a gesture of solidarity, Guterres plans to participate in a traditional Iftar break with refugees accompanied by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Abdur Salam, an elderly refugee, commented on the dire situation by stating, “Without work or income, this will have catastrophic consequences. What kind of life is this? If you can’t give us enough food, please send us back to our homeland. We want to return to Myanmar with our rights.”

In conclusion, the visit of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Cox’s Bazar underscores the urgent need for increased funding to support Rohingya refugees facing drastic cuts to food rations. With imminent reductions risking increased hunger and suffering, the international community is called upon to step forward and address this humanitarian crisis. The situation remains critical as families face struggles without adequate resources.

Original Source: www.usnews.com

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