by Hafizur Rahman
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, September 6, 2025, The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that food aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh could run out by November unless immediate international funding is secured, raising fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis in the world’s largest refugee settlement.
Critical Dependence on Aid
Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of WFP, said during his recent visit to Bangladesh that nearly one million Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar remain entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance.
“They 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 percent dependent on the assistance we provide,” Skau told UNB.
WFP currently provides food assistance to the entire camp population each month. Skau warned that if operations stop, refugees will face severe hunger and may be forced to adopt “negative coping mechanisms” or attempt dangerous journeys outside the camps in search of food.
Funding Shortfall
The agency said it requires $60 million over the next six months to keep food and nutrition programs running, while its total requirement for the coming year is $167 million. Although the United States currently contributes nearly 60 percent of WFP’s funding for the Rohingya crisis, Skau stressed that more countries, particularly from the Gulf, ASEAN, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), must step forward.
“Our money is running out. We don’t have the budget to continue beyond the end of November,” he cautioned.
Support for Host Communities
Skau praised Bangladeshis, especially Cox’s Bazar residents, for their generosity and highlighted that much of the food supplied to Rohingya refugees is procured locally, providing an economic return to the host community.
“The food we provide for the Rohingya is procured in Bangladesh, including Cox’s Bazar, making sure there is a return for the Bangladeshi economy as part of our response,” he said.
WFP added that 82 cents of every dollar spent goes directly to refugee support, with $19 million already saved through cost-cutting measures in Dhaka.
Broader Partnership
Highlighting WFP’s 50-year partnership with Bangladesh, Skau noted that the agency has long supported the country through emergency response to natural disasters as well as development programs such as school feeding.
“School meals attract and incentivize children to attend school, improve nutrition, and boost local economies by sourcing food and hiring workers locally,” he explained.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain also urged WFP to expand its school feeding programs, stressing the urgent need to combat child malnutrition.
Mobilizing Global Support
WFP is preparing to join the High-Level Conference on Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 30. Skau said the event will be critical to mobilize fresh support, but cautioned that global humanitarian resources are stretched by simultaneous crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere.
“We need to work together with the government to ensure that Bangladesh and the Rohingya situation remain high on the international agenda,” Skau said.
Despite looming challenges, he reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to continue supporting both Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.
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