All Rohingyas in the camps in Cox’s Bazar will get a partial increase in food rations on June 1st, with the World Food Programme (WFP) increasing the monthly allotment from $10 to $11 per person.
Since the beginning of this year, the WFP has added fortified rice to its food aid program in addition to the monetary increase. This rice, which is fortified and locally sourced, is far more nutritious than ordinary rice since it contains important vitamins and minerals that are vital to human health. Every Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar has already benefited from this expanded humanitarian program.
The WFP was forced to reduce food assistance from its full entitlement of $12 to $8 in 2023 due to an extraordinary funding situation, leaving the Rohingyas with only 25 cents to cover their daily food needs. The already bad condition in the camps was made worse by hunger and malnutrition even after a partial rise from $8 to $10 at the beginning of this year.
Ninety percent of people, up from eighty percent in June, could not afford a sufficient diet by November. The state of children’s nutrition declined quickly; the rate of global acute malnutrition (GAM) reached 15.1%, over the WHO emergency threshold, and the highest level since 2017.
“We have to get back to full rations as soon as feasible.” According to Dom Scalpelli, the National Director of the World Food Program for Bangladesh, “doing so will not only address the immediate suffering but also reduce the strain on other critical programs, such as protection, health, education, shelter, and cooking gas—many of which now face severe funding cuts.”
In 2023, almost 4,500 Rohingyas risked their lives at sea to flee the conditions in the camps; 569 of them perished or went missing during the journey, the highest number since 2014. The state of security inside the camps has gotten worse. Violent episodes have happened in the camps almost every day in recent months, and one of the main concerns is the possibility of forced recruitment of males by military organizations and abductions.
A sizable fire that started on May 24 in one of the camps’ sections rendered almost 4,000 people homeless. As an early response, the WFP has been supplying hot meals and high-energy biscuits to the affected homes.
Two days later, Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char were brought to Bangladesh’s southern coastal regions by Cyclone Remal. Luckily, there was no significant damage, but with the monsoon season beginning in June, the WFP and its partners are still on high alert.
“We express our gratitude to the global community for their steadfast support. These individuals exemplify humanitarianism and humanity at its finest as they tirelessly advocate to put the Rohingya problem at the top of their countries’ political agendas, in addition to raising funding on all fronts. Until we find a lasting solution for the 1 million Rohingya in Bangladesh, their support is crucial,” Scalpelli continued.
