The World Food Programme (WFP) has sounded the alarm over a looming funding crisis that threatens to cut off food assistance for nearly one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of WFP, said their operation may grind to a halt by the end of November unless urgent contributions are secured.

“The Rohingya have nowhere else to turn. They cannot work, they cannot integrate, and they certainly cannot return to Rakhine given the security situation there now – they are 100% dependent on the assistance we provide,” Skau told UNB during a visit to Bangladesh this week.

WFP requires at least US$60 million over the next six months and US$167 million for the coming year to sustain food and nutrition programmes. While the United States currently provides nearly 60% of the funding, Skau stressed the need for wider burden-sharing, urging ASEAN states, Gulf countries, and members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to step up.

Rohingya Refugee crisis at Cox’s Bazar (WFA USA) 

Despite international recognition of Bangladesh’s generosity, the refugee crisis has dragged into its seventh year with diminishing donor appetite. “We know from experience that when we withdraw or shrink our assistance, people are forced to turn to negative coping mechanisms,” Skau warned, noting that food insecurity could drive unrest inside and beyond the camps.

WFP also highlighted that its operations contribute to local economies. Much of the food supplied to the Rohingya is procured inside Bangladesh, including Cox’s Bazar, ensuring host communities benefit. “We always invest in the host communities,” Skau said, adding that cost-saving measures have already shaved US$19 million off operational expenses.

Yet, Bangladesh finds itself in a bind. Dhaka has repeatedly urged international partners, including UNHCR, to explore “practical” solutions for safe repatriation, arguing that indefinite aid is unsustainable. With no political resolution in sight, however, humanitarian agencies face mounting pressure to maintain lifeline support even as donor fatigue deepens.

The risk is stark: if food rations stop in November, nearly a million people will be left vulnerable, raising the prospect of hunger, instability, and increased cross-border insecurity. The crisis underscores a global failure while the Rohingya are trapped in limbo, their survival hinges on whether the world is willing to pay the bill.

BOB  Post