UN Chief Visits Bangladesh to Support Rohingya Camps

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, is visiting over a million Rohingya refugees as global concerns rise over potential funding reductions due to the U.S. decision to terminate operations by USAID.
Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, Touhid Hossain, greeted Guterres upon his arrival at the main airport in Dhaka on Thursday. This four-day visit, Guterres’ second journey to Bangladesh, comes at a pivotal time as proposed aid reductions by the World Food Program (WFP) and others could significantly impact the refugees following the cessation of USAID.
The interim Bangladeshi government, which assumed control in August after the previous Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed following widespread protests, sees Guterres’ visit as a vital opportunity. They aim to galvanize international aid for the Rohingya and highlight their ongoing plight to the global community.
A significant portion of the Rohingya, residing in Cox’s Bazar, face imminent food ration cuts warned by a U.N. agency. Unless the WFP secures enough funding – $81 million for the year and $15 million for April alone – monthly food allowances might reduce drastically from the current $12.50 to just $6.
Before Guterres’ arrival, Amnesty International called for an urgent international response to provide necessary support to prevent severe impacts on the refugees in Bangladesh. Smriti Singh, Amnesty International’s regional director for South Asia, emphasized the potential exacerbation of the already insufficient supply of essential resources in the camps.
Singh pointed out that the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar heavily depend on WFP aid, noting that the Bangladeshi government restricts their movement and employment opportunities outside the camps.
Guterres, accompanied by Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, is scheduled to visit Cox’s Bazar on Friday, followed by discussions in Dhaka on Saturday, after which they will address the media together.
Despite USAID’s funding cessation, Bangladesh’s interim government assured that projects supporting Rohingya refugees would continue. However, they acknowledged that it may affect other aid initiatives in the country.
The United States has been a principal benefactor for the Rohingya in Bangladesh, contributing significantly to U.N. operations with emergency food and nutrition aid. Historically, the U.S. has been responsible for nearly half of the funding related to the humanitarian crisis involving the Rohingya, amounting to about $300 million in 2024 alone.
The Rohingya crisis, which sees hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in Bangladesh, was exacerbated in 2024 when approximately 70,000 crossed over from Myanmar amidst conflict between the military junta and the resistance force, the Arakan Army, which currently controls the Rakhine state.
Bangladesh considers repatriation to Myanmar, where the Rohingya face allegations of genocide, as the ultimate resolution to the crisis. However, diplomatic, political, and verification challenges pose significant obstacles to achieving this.