Amnesty International Warns of ‘Devastating’ Cuts to Rohingya Refugee Aid

Amnesty International has called on the global community to increase support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, warning of the “devastating impact” of severe aid cuts by the World Food Programme (WFP), set to take effect next month.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 95% of Rohingya families depend entirely on humanitarian aid, and the WFP’s plan to cut food rations by half will have catastrophic consequences, as resources are already stretched to their limits.

Amnesty’s South Asia regional director, Smriti Singh, stated that the funding shortfall will worsen the severe shortages of food and essential services in the refugee camps. She highlighted the particular vulnerability of children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

“The Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar has no choice but to rely on WFP aid, as Bangladesh strictly limits their access to jobs and restricts their movement outside the camps,” Singh added.

The WFP attributed the cuts to a global decline in humanitarian funding.