by Ro Maung Shwe. Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Mohammed Younus, a 28-year-old Rohingya father of four, is struggling to survive in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh after losing his leg in a landmine explosion and facing reduced food assistance.
Younus, the son of Azer Mia, lives with his family of six in one of the largest refugee settlements in the world. Like many others, his life has been shaped by displacement, poverty, and limited opportunities. Before movement restrictions tightened, he worked as a daily labourer outside the camp, earning just enough to support his family. When those restrictions increased, he lost access to work, leaving his household without a stable income.
As debts grew and options narrowed, Younus took on risky work near the Myanmar Bangladesh border on August 2, 2025. The work involved the informal movement of essential goods into conflict affected areas of Arakan, where access to basic necessities remains limited.
On his first day, only hours after leaving home, he was caught in a landmine explosion linked to ongoing conflict in the region. The blast resulted in the loss of his right leg, ending his ability to continue physical labour and support his family.
The impact was immediate and long term. Medical treatment costs consumed his remaining resources, and without any formal support system, he depended on help from neighbours and relatives. Although he recovered from his initial injuries, his condition has left him unable to return to work.
He now faces continued hardship, including concerns over access to adequate food assistance.
Younus said he has been affected by the current food distribution system implemented by the World Food Programme, which divides assistance into three categories based on vulnerability. Under this system, the most vulnerable receive 12 US dollars per person per month, while others receive 10 or 7 dollars depending on their classification.
Despite living with a disability and being the sole provider for his family, Younus said he has been placed in the second category, receiving 10 dollars instead of the higher level of support.
“You can judge for yourself which category I belong to. As a disabled person, my family should receive 12 dollars according to their own criteria. But I am given only 10 dollars. How can I survive like this?” he said.
His experience reflects broader concerns among Rohingya refugees about fairness and adequacy in aid distribution. For families like his, differences in classification directly affect daily survival.
Community members say cases like Younus highlight the combined challenges faced by refugees, including loss of livelihood, exposure to conflict risks, long term disability, and gaps in humanitarian assistance.
They say improved targeting, greater accountability, and sustained support are needed to ensure that the most vulnerable receive adequate assistance.
Without such measures, many refugees remain in conditions where meeting basic needs continues to be a daily struggle.
