Refugees' Worsening Conditions in Bangladesh Camps

The drop in aid comes as the World Food Programme reduced food assistance to the Rohingya by 33 percent earlier this year, despite existing malnutrition issues in the Cox’s Bazar camps.

Staff Reporter

Dec 27, 2023, 05:20 AM2 min read

Refugees' Worsening Conditions in Bangladesh Camps

A roghingya mother is feeding his malnourished child in Ukhiya refugee camp, Coxs Bazar Photo : sourced

Bangladesh issued a warning about the worsening humanitarian crisis in its refugee camps that host around 1 million Rohingya people. This comes as global aid for the oppressed, stateless minority has significantly declined this year.

The Joint Response Plan, an annual UN fundraising plan established in 2017 after a military crackdown forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee, was initially well-funded. However, data from the UN Refugee Agency reveals that in 2023, the plan received only 50 percent of the required $876 million to provide essential assistance to those in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mizanur Rahman said to Arab News, the drastic decrease in the Joint Response Plan, impacting Rohingya in areas such as food, medical facilities, education, and overall living conditions. This marks the first time they've witnessed such a low response, compared to around 70 percent or more in previous years.

The drop in aid comes as the World Food Programme reduced food assistance to the Rohingya by 33 percent earlier this year, despite existing malnutrition issues in the Cox’s Bazar camps. This reduction from $12 to $8 per person per month adds strain to the already challenging conditions.

Photos Show Rohingya Refugee Crisis Between Myanmar and Bangladesh

Rahman said, “The law and order situation inside the camps will deteriorate. It will increase the threat of more and more human trafficking ... it will trigger desperate attempts to leave the camps."

In 2023, the UN recorded at least 3,722 Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, attempting to flee Bangladeshi camps by boat across the Andaman Sea — an increase from 3,705 the previous year.

Despite Bangladesh not being a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, its government claims to spend an estimated $1.2 billion annually to support the Rohingya. This includes providing land, water, electricity, law enforcement, medical care, and administrative support.

Rahman urged donor communities, especially the US, EU, and other wealthy countries that assisted the Rohingya in previous years, to continue their support. He also called on Gulf countries to stand beside this stateless Muslim population.