UNHCR/Roger Arnold. Thousands of new Rohingya refugee arrivals cross the border near Anzuman Para village, Palong Khali, Bangladesh.
In the sprawling refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, a humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority group from Myanmar, have sought refuge in these overcrowded settlements, escaping violence and persecution in their homeland. However, the situation has taken a turn for the worse as the United Nations (UN) faces a reduction in funding, impacting the already vulnerable Rohingya population.
On Thursday, the United Nations World Food Programme announced deep cuts in food rations, from US$12 per month several months ago to just $8 a month, building pressure to return to dangerous conditions in Myanmar.
UN special rapporteurs warned that the cuts will have the “devastatingly predictable” consequence of “spiking rates of acute malnutrition, infant mortality, violence, and even death.” Some refugees, they said, might be compelled to “risk their lives at sea, [rather] than to face hunger and even death in the camps.”
This is not the first time slashes in food rations have accompanied other pressures on Rohingya refugees to leave.
In 1978, the Bangladesh government weaponized food to force starving Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar, which remained intent on persecuting them. Then, as now, the Rohingya refugees were confined to camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar area and were not allowed to work, so they depended on food rations to survive.
A 1979 report by Alan C. Lindquist, then-head of the UN Refugee Agency’s Sub-office in Cox’s Bazar quoted Bangladesh’s then-secretary of the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed All Khasru, as saying, “It is all very well to have fat, well-fed refugees. But …we are not going to make the refugees so comfortable that they won’t go back to Burma [Myanmar].”
The Lindquist report said that by December 1978 between 80 and 85 people were dying daily in Bangladesh’s camps. “More and more showed themselves ready to go back to escape the terrible conditions in the Bangladesh camps,” Lindquist wrote. “From November 15th onwards, at least 2,000 were returning every three days, the maximum rate specified in the July [1978] agreement between the two countries.”
These food ration cuts, along with escalating restrictive measures imposed by Bangladesh authorities and violence in the squalid, overcrowded refugee camps, are increasing pressure on the refugees to repatriate.
By the end of March 1979, more than 107,000 Rohingya had returned to Myanmar – and more than 11,900 had died, Bill Frelick, Director, Refugee and Migrant Rights Division wrote in an article in a report.
Since August 2017, the Rohingya have fled their homes in Myanmar, enduring horrific violence and persecution. In search of safety, they have poured into neighboring Bangladesh, specifically Cox’s Bazar, which is now home to the largest refugee settlement in the world. The challenges facing the Rohingya refugees are manifold, ranging from inadequate access to food, clean water, healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities.
The United Nations has been at the forefront of providing humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. However, due to complex geopolitical factors and limited financial resources, the UN has faced significant funding reductions, severely undermining its ability to provide essential support to the Rohingya population.
The reduction in funding has led to food shortages, leaving many Rohingya refugees without access to proper nutrition. Malnutrition rates, particularly among children, have risen alarmingly, heightening the risk of long-term health issues and stunted development.
The precarious living conditions in the refugee camps are exacerbated by the funding cuts, making it increasingly difficult to maintain proper sanitation and hygiene. This situation has led to heightened risks of infectious diseases, posing a grave threat to the health and well-being of the Rohingya community.
Funding reductions have dealt a severe blow to education programs for Rohingya children. Schools and learning centers in the camps have been forced to shut down or scale back their services, denying thousands of children access to education. This disruption perpetuates cycles of poverty and dependency, hindering their ability to build a brighter future.
The Rohingya refugees have endured unimaginable trauma, witnessing violence and experiencing the loss of loved ones. Unfortunately, the reduction in funding has significantly impacted mental health support services. Many individuals now lack access to crucial psychological care needed to heal and rebuild their lives.
The dire situation facing the Rohingya population necessitates urgent international support. Advocacy groups, humanitarian organizations, and concerned individuals must rally together to demand increased funding to alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya refugees. Ensuring that the UN has the necessary resources to provide essential aid is crucial to mitigating the devastating impact of the crisis.
Adequate and sustained financial support is essential to address the pressing issues of food scarcity, healthcare, sanitation, education, and mental health. As a global community, we must stand in solidarity with the Rohingya refugees and prioritize their well-being by ensuring the necessary resources are available to provide them with a chance at a brighter future.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance
