by Ro Maung Shwe
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Beginning on 1 April 2026, the World Food Programme will introduce a new tiered ration system for Rohingya refugees living in camps across Cox’s Bazar. Under the revised structure, food assistance will be categorized into three levels of support based on vulnerability assessments.
The new system will provide assistance of 12 dollars, 10 dollars, or 7 dollars per person per month.
While WFP says the change is intended to prioritize limited funding for the most food insecure households, the announcement has raised widespread concern among Rohingya refugees who argue that nearly all families in the camps face similar hardship and lack access to livelihoods.
More than one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, most of whom fled violence in Myanmar in 2017, remain heavily dependent on humanitarian aid. Refugees are not permitted formal employment outside the camps, and opportunities to generate income remain extremely limited.
Community members say that under these conditions, categorizing vulnerability does not fully reflect the reality inside the camps. Even families with adult male members often have no stable income because movement restrictions and the absence of legal work authorization prevent them from earning a living.
The New Ration Structure
Under the new categorization system:
• Extremely vulnerable households will receive 12 dollars per person per month
• Highly vulnerable households will receive 10 dollars per person per month
• Moderately vulnerable households will receive 7 dollars per person per month
The change comes at a time when humanitarian agencies are facing significant global funding shortages. Aid organizations have repeatedly warned that without increased international contributions, food assistance levels cannot be maintained at previous levels.
Rising Anxiety in the Camps
The announcement has created deep anxiety across Rohingya communities. Many families fear that the lowest assistance category of 7 dollars per person per month will not be enough to meet even basic nutritional needs.
Community members recall that when WFP reduced the ration to 8 dollars per person per month in 2024, families already struggled to survive. Since then, the prices of food items have continued to increase, making daily survival even more difficult.
Several refugees say the new system could force families to skip meals or send children to bed hungry. Community leaders warn that prolonged food shortages could increase risks such as child labour, early marriage, malnutrition, and mental health distress.
“We are already struggling every day,” said one refugee father. “If the ration decreases, how will we feed our children? We are not living. We are surviving.”
Humanitarian experts have long warned that food security in the camps remains fragile and highly sensitive to funding reductions.
Community Concerns and Global Appeal
Beyond immediate survival concerns, many Rohingya refugees are also questioning the broader global response to their crisis.
Community members note that the United States has historically been one of the largest humanitarian donors worldwide, including for Rohingya assistance. However, refugees say they do not understand why sustained funding is not ensured when needs remain so urgent.
Some refugees also point to the stark inequality they observe globally. In many parts of the world, even a vulnerable individual may spend more than 20 dollars in a single day. Yet Rohingya refugees, among the most persecuted and displaced populations, are expected to survive on as little as 12 dollars for an entire month of food.
Community voices also draw attention to wealthier regions in the Middle East and Western countries where luxury spending and food waste are common, while families in the camps sometimes sleep without enough food.
“We are not asking for luxury,” said a youth activist from Camp 2. “We are not asking for buildings, cars, or expensive clothes. We are only asking for simple food to survive. Please do not forget us.”
Another Rohingya mother made a similar appeal.
“Please do not let our children sleep hungry,” she said. “We are human beings. We deserve at least enough food to live.”
A Protracted Crisis at Risk of Neglect
The Rohingya crisis remains one of the world’s longest running and most underfunded humanitarian emergencies. As global conflicts and economic pressures compete for international attention, humanitarian budgets are becoming increasingly stretched.
The new ration system reflects a broader humanitarian challenge. With limited resources available, aid agencies are forced to make difficult decisions about prioritizing assistance.
However, Rohingya community leaders say that when an entire population lacks the legal right to work and remains fully dependent on humanitarian support, categorizing hunger risks creating deeper inequality within already vulnerable communities.
A Call for Renewed Global Solidarity
Rohingya refugees say their appeal to the international community is simple.
They are not asking for comfort.
They are not asking for luxury or privilege.
They are asking only for enough food to survive with dignity.
As 1 April approaches, families across the camps are waiting anxiously to see how the new system will affect their daily lives. For many Rohingya refugees, the message remains clear.
“Do not forget us. We are human beings.”
