U.S. Food Aid Cuts Threaten Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh fear worsening conditions as the World Food Program (WFP) cuts food aid by 50% starting April 1. The decision follows President Donald Trump’s halt on most foreign aid, which has disrupted global humanitarian efforts. Over 1 million Rohingya refugees living in crowded camps in Cox’s Bazar will be affected, with concerns over rising malnutrition, mental distress, and economic instability. Bangladesh continues to insist that the Rohingya must return to Myanmar, despite ongoing armed conflict in the region.
Rohingya Refugee Crisis Quick Looks
- Food Aid Cut in Half: Rohingya refugees will see rations reduced from $12.50 to $6 per month.
- U.S. Foreign Aid Halted: President Trump’s January 20 executive order froze USAID funding for a 90-day review.
- Over 1 Million Affected: The reduction will impact nutrition, mental health, and social stability in Rohingya camps.
- Growing Crisis in Myanmar: Armed conflict between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military junta has intensified.
- Medical Services Reduced: Refugees report hospitals only provide emergency treatment due to funding cuts.
- Uncertain Future: Bangladesh insists that Rohingya must return to Myanmar, despite international concerns.
Deep Look
Food Crisis Looms as U.S. Cuts Funding for Rohingya Refugees
For more than 1 million Rohingya refugees living in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, daily survival has always been a challenge. Now, the situation is set to become even more dire.
Beginning April 1, 2025, the World Food Program (WFP) will cut food rations by 50%, reducing the monthly food allowance from $12.50 to $6 per person. The news has sent shockwaves through the refugee population, many of whom depend entirely on aid for survival.
The reduction in food assistance follows President Donald Trump’s abrupt halt to most U.S. foreign aid. On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order freezing USAID funding for a 90-day review, a move that has disrupted humanitarian operations worldwide. While it is unclear if the WFP’s funding cuts are directly linked to this decision, the timing suggests a significant impact on the global humanitarian response.
Rohingya refugees, already living in cramped, unsanitary conditions, now face rising malnutrition and psychological distress as food supplies dwindle.
“How Will We Survive?” Rohingya Refugees Speak Out
For many refugees, the drastic reduction in food rations means making impossible choices.
“I am afraid now about how I am going to run my family, as we don’t have any income-generating opportunities here,” said 40-year-old Manzur Ahmed, a refugee in Cox’s Bazar.
“With only 700 taka ($6) a month, how will I buy rice, chilies, salt, sugar, and dal—let alone fish, meat, or vegetables? We won’t even be able to buy cooking oil. How are we going to survive?”
The anxiety is widespread across the camps. Medical care is also being affected, with many refugees reporting that clinics only provide treatment for emergency cases due to funding shortages.
“When we go to the hospital, they don’t provide medicines unless it’s an emergency,” said 32-year-old Dildar Begum. “Earlier, they would treat anyone who felt unwell. Now, only the most severe cases get care.”
The Bigger Picture: Myanmar’s Conflict and the Rohingya’s Uncertain Future
The Rohingya people have faced decades of persecution in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship, basic rights, and freedom of movement. The crisis escalated in August 2017, when Myanmar’s military launched a “clearance operation” that forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee across the border into Bangladesh.
Since a 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been engulfed in widespread conflict, described by many as a civil war. Armed clashes between the military junta and opposition forces, including the Arakan Army, have intensified.
In 2024, an additional 70,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing escalating violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. However, Bangladesh has repeatedly insisted that Rohingya refugees must return to Myanmar—a move that many human rights groups say could put them at risk of further persecution.
Bangladesh has called for international support in repatriating the Rohingya, but with Myanmar still in crisis, their return remains unlikely.
U.S. Foreign Aid: A Major Blow to the Humanitarian Response
The United States has historically been the largest donor to humanitarian efforts for Rohingya refugees, providing nearly half of the funding used for emergency food and nutrition programs. In 2024 alone, the U.S. contributed approximately $300 million to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
However, President Trump’s decision to halt USAID funding has created uncertainty about future aid. Bangladesh’s interim government has confirmed that many U.S.-funded projects will be stopped, though assistance for Rohingya refugees may continue under separate funding mechanisms.
Shamsud Douza, the Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner of Bangladesh, confirmed the devastating impact of the cuts:
- “As the food is cut, refugees will receive less nutritious meals, leading to malnutrition.”
- “This will create social and mental pressure among the Rohingya people.”
- “Some people have lost jobs, and services have been reduced.”
Despite these struggles, no alternative funding sources have been identified to replace the lost U.S. aid.
What’s Next for the Rohingya?
As the crisis deepens, humanitarian organizations are scrambling to secure additional funding. The WFP, along with other aid agencies, is calling for urgent international intervention to prevent a catastrophic humanitarian disaster.
Meanwhile, the debate over Rohingya repatriation continues. Bangladesh insists that the refugees must return to Myanmar, but many Rohingya fear persecution if forced to go back.
With food shortages, medical cutbacks, and increasing desperation in the camps, the situation is at a breaking point. Without renewed international support, the future for over one million Rohingya refugees remains uncertain.
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