Humanitarian Crisis Looms as Aid Cuts Threaten Rohingya Refugees' Survival

As aid dwindles, the world's largest refugee camp in Bangladesh faces impending starvation, with food allowances reduced to unsustainable levels. U.N. officials have condemned the drastic cuts, predicting dire consequences for over a million Rohingya refugees.

In the sprawling refugee camp housing over a million Rohingya people in Bangladesh, an imminent humanitarian catastrophe looms as food aid faces drastic cuts. Beginning in April, the allowance per person is slashed to a meager $6 for the month, severely jeopardizing survival for those reliant on outside assistance.

United Nations officials have expressed alarming concerns that the once abundant provisions could shortly consist of just 18 pounds of rice, two pounds of lentils, a liter of cooking oil, and a minimal quantity of salt—a stark reduction deemed insufficient for basic nourishment. This notable decrease comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s freeze on humanitarian aid, a decision that has exacerbated an already precarious situation for many in the camp as other nations follow suit, redirecting their budgets toward military expenditures in response to rising tensions with Russia.

During his recent visit to the camp in Cox’s Bazar, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres issued a dire warning, highlighting the rapidly escalating crisis. "With these announced cuts in financial support, we risk having only 40% of the resources for humanitarian aid this year compared to 2024," he cautioned in front of thousands of gathered Rohingya refugees. "This would be disastrous. Lives are at stake."

As European nations pivot their focus toward increased military funding, the traditional safety nets provided by humanitarian aid are being dismantled, placing millions in grave danger. The U.N. is urging immediate action to avert a catastrophic loss of life in a region already beleaguered by conflict and deprivation.