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UN chief visits Cox’s Bazar, warns funding cuts would sharply reduce Rohingya rations
Summary
Secretary-General met Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and voiced concern over World Food Programme funding cuts that would halve monthly rations; WFP says $60 million is needed to maintain life-saving food assistance in Myanmar this year.
United Nations Secretary-General visited Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, met Rohingya refugees and host communities, and warned that announced cuts to food assistance would have severe humanitarian consequences, the U.N. spokesperson said.
The visit included meetings with refugee families, youth and women running livelihoods inside the camps, and an Iftar shared with roughly 60,000 people. "He assured every one of the people he met that he would do everything he can to stop the funding cuts, and he apologized to them because the United Nations and the international community have not been able to stop the conflict in Myanmar," the spokesperson, Steph, said.
Why it matters: The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that funding shortfalls would reduce monthly food rations for affected people from $12.50 to about $6. WFP told the briefing that, without immediate new funds, it would be able to assist only about 35,000 of the most vulnerable people in Myanmar; more than 1,000,000 people would be cut off from WFP assistance beginning in April if funding gaps persist. WFP said it urgently needs $60,000,000 to maintain life-saving food assistance in Myanmar this year.
Details from the briefing: U.N. staff described children in the camps as grateful for access to schooling but worried about returning home. The spokesperson said the secretary-general heard two clear messages on the trip: that many Rohingya want to return to Myanmar, and that they want improved conditions in the camps where they currently live. The briefing noted that cuts would also affect internally displaced people in Rakhine and Rohingya communities in camps.
Context and next steps: The secretary-general’s trip to Bangladesh was part of a Ramadan solidarity visit, and U.N. officials said he followed up the Cox’s Bazar visit with travel to Geneva and Brussels for separate diplomatic meetings. The WFP funding request and the scale of people at risk were presented to the press as immediate priorities for fundraising and donor discussions.
Ending: The U.N. spokesperson said agencies and the secretary-general will continue to engage with member states and partners to try to avert the reductions in assistance and to seek the funds WFP says are needed.
