Rising Hunger in Rohingya Camps: UN Sounds Alarm Over Aid Cuts

In a dire warning, UN Secretary General António Guterres has alerted that forthcoming cuts in aid could culminate in an unmanageable humanitarian disaster that may lead to loss of life among the vulnerable Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

In the sprawling confines of the world's largest Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh, more than a million people are facing precarious food allowances that may plunge them into starvation. As officials prepare for drastic reductions in food rations, the situation grows increasingly dire. Beginning in April, food provisions are slated to decrease to a meager monthly ration of 18 pounds of rice, 2 pounds of lentils, a liter of cooking oil, and a pinch of salt—barely enough for survival.

The ongoing freeze on humanitarian aid by the Trump administration has created significant challenges for aid organizations striving to sustain the relief efforts amid multiple global conflicts. The deterioration of this crucial support has left agencies scrambling to address the critical needs of the displaced populations. Furthermore, many European countries have also started cutting back on humanitarian assistance, opting instead to increase military expenditures in response to an assertive Russia.

During his recent visit to the Rohingya camp, Secretary General António Guterres expressed profound concern over the impending aid cuts, indicating that such reductions could lead to a catastrophic scenario. "We are facing the dramatic risk of having only 40 percent in 2025 of the resources available for humanitarian aid in 2024," he stated to a gathering of tens of thousands of refugees. "That would be an unmitigated disaster. People will suffer, and people will die."

As the international community reflects on the urgent necessity to bolster aid efforts, the fate of countless Rohingya refugees hangs precariously in the balance, while calls for action intensify amidst fears of widespread suffering and death.