If sufficient funds cannot be allocated for the Rohingya population who have taken refuge in Bangladesh from Myanmar, the World Food Programme (WFP) will be compelled to reduce food assistance from $12.5 per person to $6 per person starting from April 1.
Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, director general of the Public Diplomacy Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided this information during a regular press briefing on Thursday.
Referring to the WFP’s prior notification about this matter, he said: "In such a case, efforts will be made to tackle this challenge through appropriate processes with the support of the international community and various organizations, while Bangladesh’s efforts for Rohingya repatriation will continue."
Rohingya fear crime surge amid food ration cutsTwo-year assistance plan
The United Nations (UN) typically formulates a one-year assistance plan for the Rohingya population and publishes it at the beginning of the year. However, this year, the plan will cover a two-year period.
Regarding this, Director General Rafiqul Alam stated: "The Government of Bangladesh is working on a two-year plan under the 2025-26 Joint Response Plan (JRP) of the UN Refugee Agency for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. Through this process, the government collaborates throughout the year with the UN Refugee Agency and other international organizations to secure funding for the Rohingya population."
"The finalization process of this year’s JRP is currently ongoing, and it is expected that the 2025-2026 JRP will be officially launched this month. Plans and activities will be undertaken in due course with the support of the international community to address challenges such as budget reductions."
Limited international assistance
Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President, uncertainty has arisen regarding the direction of US foreign policy, leading to some uncertainty about humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya population. This matter was discussed during the recent visit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, to Dhaka.
Regarding this, the Director General said that during Filippo Grandi’s visit, discussions were held on the challenges of the Rohingya crisis and the cooperation between the UN and Bangladesh in resolving them.
The issue of humanitarian assistance for the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals was raised against the backdrop of uncertainties surrounding the new US foreign policy. Filippo Grandi expressed concern that, given the global reality, the UN Refugee Agency has been compelled to limit its operations in many parts of the world, which may lead to a gradual reduction in international assistance.
On behalf of the Government of Bangladesh, hopes were expressed that the international conference on the Rohingya crisis scheduled for later this year will yield effective solutions to the crisis and help mobilize new donors to support the Rohingya community, the director general said.
