The Plight of Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh Amid U.S. Aid Cuts
The Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh has deepened as the U.S. government’s decision to slash food rations by half threatens the survival of over a million displaced individuals. Located in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the overcrowded refugee camps are home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled ethnic persecution in Myanmar. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a critical donor to the humanitarian efforts in the region, but the abrupt cuts, stemming from President Donald Trump’s executive order, have left the World Food Programme (WFP) and other aid agencies scrambling to cope. The reduction in food assistance, set to begin in April, has sent waves of fear and frustration through the camps, where refugees already live in dire conditions.
The Impact on Nutrition and Mental Health
Refugee officials warn that the halving of food rations will have severe consequences for the nutrition and mental well-being of the Rohingya. Shamsud Douza, Bangladesh’s additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, highlighted that the monthly food allowance per person is being reduced from $12.50 to $6, a cut that will force refugees to resort to less nutritious food. This reduction will exacerbate malnutrition, particularly among children and the elderly, who are already vulnerable. Beyond physical health, the mental toll of this decision is equally concerning. Refugees, who have endured years of trauma and displacement, now face increased social and mental pressure as they struggle to secure basic necessities. Many fear they will have to rely on alternative and unsustainable methods to feed their families, further destabilizing their already fragile lives.
A Long History of Displacement and Suffering
The Rohingya have endured decades of systemic discrimination and violence in Myanmar, a Buddhist-majority nation that denies them citizenship and basic rights. In August 2017, a brutal military "clearance operation" forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, joining hundreds of thousands who had arrived in earlier waves of displacement. The situation worsened in 2021 when Myanmar plunged into civil war following a military coup. The Arakan Army, an opposition group, took control of Rakhine State, the region from which many Rohingya were displaced, leading to further unrest and displacement. Despite international condemnation of Myanmar’s actions, including accusations of genocide, the Rohingya remain trapped in a stateless limbo, unable to return home or rebuild their lives.
Refugee Voices: Fear, Frustration, and Resilience
As news of the food ration cuts spread through the camps, refugees expressed their anguish and desperation. Manzur Ahmed, a 40-year-old father, described his fears about how he would feed his family with the reduced allowance. "How will I buy rice, chilies, salt, sugar, and dal, let alone fish, meat, and vegetables, with 700 taka ($6)? We won’t even be able to buy cooking oil. How are we going to get them?" he pleaded. Refugees like Ahmed, who have no income-generating opportunities in the camps, are left with few options but to rely on meager resources and informal support networks. Meanwhile, medical services are also being scaled back, with refugees reporting that hospitals now only provide emergency care. Dildar Begum, a 32-year-old refugee, shared that non-emergency patients are no longer receiving treatment, further isolating an already vulnerable population.
International Implications and Funding Challenges
The U.S. has historically been the largest donor to Bangladesh’s Rohingya response, contributing nearly half of the humanitarian aid, including $300 million in 2024. However, the Trump administration’s abrupt decision to halt foreign aid and dismantle USAID has sent shockwaves through the global humanitarian sector. While it is unclear whether the WFP’s decision to cut rations is directly linked to the U.S. funding freeze, officials acknowledge that the overall reduction in aid has slowed the response and led to job losses among refugees and aid workers. Bangladesh’s interim government has assured that funding for Rohingya refugees will continue, but the strain on resources is evident. The situation underscores the fragility of international aid systems and the devastating consequences of political decisions on vulnerable populations.
A Call for Global Solidarity and Action
As the Rohingya face yet another crisis, the international community must step up to address the urgent needs of this displaced population. Humanitarian organizations are urging donors to fill the funding gap left by the U.S. cuts, but the challenge goes beyond immediate aid. The root causes of the Rohingya crisis—statelessness, discrimination, and violence in Myanmar—must be addressed to ensure lasting solutions. For now, the focus remains on mitigating the immediate harm caused by the ration cuts. Refugees like Manzur Ahmed and Dildar Begum remind us of the human cost of political decisions and the need for compassion and solidarity. As the Rohingya struggle to survive in Bangladesh, the world must not turn its back on their story.
