DHAKA: The UN’s refugee chief, Filippo Grandi, expressed grave concerns on Tuesday regarding the diminishing humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, highlighting the possible aggravation of one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Approximately a million Rohingya refugees, mostly stateless minorities, sought refuge in Bangladesh following a Myanmar military crackdown in 2017, which is currently under investigation for genocide at the International Criminal Court.
The Rohingya crisis has been marred by challenges, including the lack of progress in repatriation agreements, rampant lawlessness in refugee settlements, and significant reductions in international humanitarian aid. Grandi emphasized the pressing issue, stating that humanitarian assistance is dwindling amidst ongoing crises in other regions such as Ethiopia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Israel.
“The declining support is a significant concern. This is a crisis that should not be forgotten. If contributions continue to decline, we are in serious trouble,” Grandi cautioned during a press briefing on the sidelines of a regional meeting.
Funding for Rohingya Refugees
He revealed that the Rohingya crisis had received only 42 percent of the required $875.9 million in funding for this year. Budget cuts have forced the UN World Food Programme to drastically reduce humanitarian aid to Rohingya camps, with funding for rations plummeting to $8 per refugee per month. This situation has led to widespread malnutrition among the refugees, a matter of increasing concern for human rights groups.
In a welcomed move, the United Kingdom’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, announced a funding contribution of 4.5 million pounds ($5.4 million) on Tuesday, aiming to alleviate the dire situation.
Read Also: KSrelief Team Inspects Rohingya Housing Projects in Bangladesh
Grandi reiterated that the preferred course of action remained the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, although acknowledging the persistent fear among the Rohingya about returning to a country where they are considered outsiders. Bangladesh and Myanmar have been collaborating on a pilot program for the limited repatriation of Rohingya individuals. However, rights groups have voiced concerns about the safety and security of the returnees, as conditions in Myanmar remain precarious.
