Mohammad Karim fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State eight years ago due to a military crackdown that displaced his family. Since then, he has lived in a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya, depending entirely on aid.
Karim and his family have been surviving on rations provided by the World Food Programme (WFP). However, the United Nations has now announced a drastic reduction in food aid for Rohingya refugees, cutting the monthly allocation per person from $12.50 to just $6 starting in April.
With no jobs or businesses allowed, refugees like Karim are concerned about how they will survive on just Tk 750 per month. “Allah is the provider. We are waiting for His mercy. I don’t know what will happen next month,” he said.
This concern is shared by over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees in the camps. Experts warn that the reduction in aid will heighten risks, including crime and extremism.
The Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), which oversees refugee affairs for the Bangladesh government, has expressed deep concern over the impact. Additional Commissioner Shamsud Douza Nayan said, “Reducing food aid by half will have severe consequences. Refugees may turn to crime to meet their basic needs.” He also warned that law and order in the region could deteriorate further.
‘WE WILL HAVE TO STARVE’
In a statement on Friday, the WFP explained that funding shortages are threatening food assistance for Rohingya refugees. Without urgent new funding, rations will be cut in half. Since refugees are restricted from leaving the camps and are not allowed to work, the reduction in food aid will make them more vulnerable to security threats, trafficking, domestic violence, and exploitation.
Child labor and early marriages may rise as families struggle to survive, the WFP warned.
Last month, Karim’s family received Tk 1,512 per person in WFP aid, which had to be spent at designated stores. With that amount, he could buy rice, oil, onions, garlic, lentils, sugar, eggs, and flour. To afford dried fish and tilapia or pangasius, he had to sell excess oil, sugar, and flour. He hasn’t been able to afford meat for some time.
Md Solaiman, a resident of Camp 21 in Ukhiya, supports a family of four, including his elderly mother, who gets an extra Tk 350. However, their rations remain insufficient. To survive, Solaiman sometimes sneaks out to find work, despite employment restrictions. Jobs are rare, and he often borrows from neighbors. “If they cut rations in half, we will have to starve. We own land and property back home, but here we live on handouts,” he said.
A dozen refugee families interviewed expressed similar fears about their uncertain future. The Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission is alarmed by the decision, warning that maintaining control over the camps will become increasingly difficult. Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mizanur Rahman urged donors to increase their contributions. “We request international donors to mobilize funds. We hope the UN will reconsider this decision,” he said.
‘CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE’
The coastal region near Myanmar in Cox’s Bazar has already become a hotspot for drug traffickers, and recently, incidents of abductions have increased. Law enforcement agencies have long claimed that Rohingya refugees are involved in these crimes. Now, with aid being reduced, former police inspector general Mohammad Nurul Huda fears this could escalate into a “security threat.” He said, “Those who came in 2017 are already 16 years old now. If such young people have no work, extremist groups may recruit them. They could also become involved in local crimes, posing a security threat.”
Former ambassador Humayun Kabir expressed similar concerns. “If international funding decreases in the camps, naturally, there will be repercussions. People may look for alternative ways to earn money or sustain their livelihood. It’s not certain they’ll all turn to crime, but the risk remains,” he said. He called for increasing diplomatic efforts for Rohingya repatriation and boosting aid for a long-term solution.
The Armed Police Battalion (APBn), which oversees camp security, has also raised concerns about law and order deteriorating due to aid cuts. Additional DIG of APBn Md Siraj Amin said, “Many Rohingya are already involved in crimes. Since food aid will decrease, they will attempt to commit more crimes. We have seen similar situations in the past when aid was reduced, but we managed to control law and order.”
WOMEN, CHILDREN AT RISK OF MALNUTRITION
In 2023, due to severe funding shortages, the WFP was forced to reduce Rohingya rations from $12 to $8 per month. As a result, food intake dropped significantly, and malnutrition among children born after 2017 exceeded 15 percent. Aid was later increased slightly after securing new funding. If the same situation arises again, Rohingya leaders fear that women and children will suffer from malnutrition.
Mohammad Zubair, chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, said, “I was left speechless upon hearing about the ration cuts. If the allocation drops from $12.50 to $6, survival will become impossible for Rohingya. Even the previous amount was not enough for a nutritious life.” He also expressed concerns about crime and illegal businesses in the camps, adding, “We do not want to survive on financial aid here. We want to return to our country and provide for ourselves.”
Young Rohingya leader Mujibur Rahman echoed these concerns, saying, “Rohingya have no other source of income. Their lives are entirely dependent on food aid. Receiving such news during Ramadan is deeply disheartening. Famine will break out here.”
LOCALS FEAR RISING PRESSURE
Concerns are rising among the local population in Cox’s Bazar as aid for the Rohingya refugees continues to dwindle. Locals fear that a shortage of food and resources will push refugees to seek work outside the camps, increasing pressure on local employment and potentially leading to conflicts.
Abu Morshed Chowdhury, president of Cox’s Bazar Civil Society, said, “When their food assistance is reduced, they will leave the camps in search of livelihoods. This will put immense pressure on local employment.” He called the situation a “humanitarian crisis.” SM Suja, secretary for Rohingya and NGO affairs at the National Citizen Committee, warned of possible clashes between locals and refugees. “The international community must step forward to ensure the fundamental human rights of the Rohingya. Otherwise, this will become a major challenge for Bangladesh,” he said.
Many local homes are now surrounded by refugee camps, creating security concerns. Engineer Robiul Hossain, president of the Ukhiya Local Rights Implementation Committee, said: “Incidents of kidnapping by Rohingya have occurred. Theft and robbery are daily occurrences in Ukhiya and Teknaf. If the situation continues, the area could become a hotspot for abductions and violent crimes within the camps.”
Helal Uddin, a local representative in Kutupalong, stressed the need for repatriation. “The only solution is to send the Rohingya back to their homeland. Until the repatriation process is implemented, strict measures must be in place to prevent them from leaving the camps,” he said.
URGENT NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE FUNDING, REPATRIATION
Rohingya aid has been steadily decreasing since 2017, according to refugee expert Rahman Nasir Uddin, an anthropology professor at Chattogram University. “Even under the Joint Response Plan, current aid covers only half of their daily needs. Now, it will be reduced further, creating a serious obstacle to their basic necessities,” he said.
The declining aid will also strain Bangladesh’s economy, which already provides subsidies for Rohingya sustenance. “With reduced assistance, Bangladesh will face significant economic pressure,” Nasir Uddin added.
He urged the government to adopt an “aggressive diplomacy” approach to secure additional funding from donors outside the US, including the European Union, Australia, Japan, and Canada.
Former diplomat Humayun Kabir echoed the urgency of securing international funding alongside repatriation efforts. “Rohingya people have already been forced to fight for both the Arakan Army and the Myanmar government. Their situation is dire. While funding is necessary, repatriation must remain a priority,” he said.
Kabir suggested exploring alternative funding sources. “Canada, the European Union, the Netherlands, and Australia could be approached. The UN can also request support. However, Bangladesh cannot rely solely on external funds. Our own budget constraints mean that international backing is crucial,” he said.
