In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the U.N. Secretary-General has strongly criticized recent decisions by the U.S. and European nations to reduce humanitarian aid to Bangladesh. This area is currently home to a significant population of Rohingya refugees. During his visit to Bangladesh, António Guterres condemned these aid reductions, labeling them a “crime” given the circumstances of the refugees. His visit coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time when he traditionally visits a Muslim-majority country.
Guterres’s trip included a stop in Cox’s Bazar, an area significantly affected by the budget cuts, as it hosts a major part of the over one million Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar. Since 2017, when a significant exodus of over 700,000 Rohingya occurred, Bangladesh has provided refuge for them. Additional refugees crossed the border in 2024 due to military conflicts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Facing these pressing challenges, the U.N. is striving to secure enough funding for the Rohingya amidst the recent declarations of drastic aid reductions. The U.N.’s World Food Program has announced a looming necessity to halve food aid if additional financial resources are not secured soon. This follows a similar warning from other humanitarian agencies discussing possible aid shortfalls.
In Dhaka, the Secretary-General met with Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressing deep concern over the Western countries’ decisions to elevate defense spending at the expense of humanitarian aid. Guterres was reported to have expressed that aid reductions were tantamount to a crime, emphasizing the need for sustained international support.
There are growing fears within the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar that greatly needed aid may decline, especially following announcements from the U.S. about ending certain operations. Historically, substantial funding for the refugees came from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is now under threat due to budget alterations. However, Bangladesh maintains that while other projects might be impacted by the aid reductions, refugee assistance would continue.
A communique from the World Food Program highlighted the urgent need for funds, specifying that food rations might be slashed unless generous financial support materializes soon. Currently, plans are in motion to reduce rations from $12.50 to $6 per month without intervention. WFP officials stated that an additional $81 million would be needed to continue supporting operations through the end of the year.
The Bangladeshi interim government is hopeful that Guterres’s visit will reinvigorate global efforts to procure additional aid for the Rohingya crisis. They aim to re-energize international awareness and support for the humanitarian needs of the refugees.
During discussions, Yunus emphasized the need for U.N. endorsement to facilitate the safe repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar’s western Rakhine state. Additionally, he stressed the importance of continued humanitarian support until a sustainable solution is reached. Yunus voiced the urgency to raise awareness about the Rohingya’s sufferings, seeking global attention to their desperate circumstances.
Guterres, alongside Yunus, later encountered the conditions in the refugee camps firsthand. Following their visit, Guterres implored the international community to recommit to aiding the refugees, stressing that neglecting the Rohingya dilemma is unacceptable. He pledged to campaign for increased contributions to mitigate the refugees’ plight.
The Secretary-General has underlined that returning to Myanmar is ultimately what the refugees wish for. He urged all parties within Myanmar to exercise restraint, uphold international humanitarian standards, avoid inciting further conflict, and strive towards conditions conducive to the Rohingya’s safe return. Ensuring the start of peace and democracy in Myanmar should be a central goal, Guterres emphasized, for resolving this protracted humanitarian issue.
Up until recently, the U.S. has been a consistent benefactor to Bangladesh’s efforts in sustaining Rohingya refugees, fighting malnutrition and hunger through substantial funding. While the U.S. has often provided nearly half of the necessary humanitarian assistance, future contributions seem uncertain, casting doubt on the ongoing support systems for these vulnerable populations. Bangladesh emphasizes that a long-term resolution depends on successful repatriation to Myanmar, despite the numerous diplomatic and political hurdles yet to be resolved.