Arakan News Agency
By: Mohammad Al-Musallami
Following a sudden and inhumane decision to cut international humanitarian aid, the suffering of more than a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps has begun to worsen.
“Securing a meal” to survive has become a “nightmare” that heavily haunts them inside the camps, leaving them “hungry.”
Between refugee testimonies reflecting the harsh reality forced upon them by international organizations, and warnings from humanitarian association officials about the severe repercussions of international funding shortages, a stifling crisis is unfolding in silence.
This crisis combines hunger, unemployment, and despair, threatening an “imminent humanitarian disaster.”
With the world preoccupied with other crises, the decline in support was enough to make the most basic necessities of life a distant dream.
Furthermore, daily suffering has turned into a real threat to life.
The features of this crisis came to light early last April, when the World Food Programme announced the implementation of a new mechanism for distributing food aid to Rohingya refugees in the Bangladesh camps.
Under this mechanism, the value of the provided aid was reduced, and refugees were classified into three categories.
The monthly allocations now start at $12 per person (severe food insecurity), $10 (high food insecurity), and $7 (food insecurity).
A “Life-Threatening” Cut
“This reduction severely affects the refugees and threatens lives,” said Niamatullah, a researcher and teacher who supports a family of seven.
He stressed that some refugees have already started risking their lives through perilous sea journeys, especially after the reduction in “food support.”
Niamatullah told the “Arakan News Agency” that the previous “$12” aid barely covered basic needs such as vegetables, onions, 13 kilos of rice, a bottle of oil, and 3 eggs.
Meanwhile, the situation has now become “extremely critical” after receiving a limited amount of food supplies that do not last for more than two weeks.
He added that complete reliance on aid is “inevitable” given the absence of any income sources inside the camps.
He expressed his fear that reducing international aid might be a pressure tactic to force them to leave Bangladesh.
Returning to Arakan remains impossible due to the dangerous security situation, while migration attempts involve significant risks such as drowning or falling victim to human trafficking.
The Rohingya teacher warned that the continued reduction of aid without sufficient alternatives could lead to “dire humanitarian consequences.”
He called for an immediate review of the support levels provided to Rohingya refugees.
Unemployment Drives Risk-Taking
Mohammad Noor, a single young man living in one of the camps, confirmed that daily life is extremely difficult due to limited job opportunities.
Most refugees cannot find jobs that match their education and skills, depriving them of a steady income source.
In his interview with the “Arakan News Agency,” he explained that youth unemployment “exacerbates the food crisis.”
Many are forced to work in low-paying jobs or resort to informal labor, despite the associated risks such as human trafficking or kidnapping.
“Noor” pointed out that the restrictions imposed on movement inside the camps, including the need for official permission to leave, prevent them from seeking real job opportunities, increasing their sense of helplessness.
He continued: “The Rohingya are in desperate need of real job opportunities, in addition to an increase in monthly financial aid, and relying on just one option will not be enough.”
Regarding the current aid of about $7 per person monthly, he indicated that it “equals the cost of breakfast in a European country” and is not enough to cover basic needs.
Most families consist of 6-10 members, while only one or two people work.
Donor Fatigue and Declining Support
Regarding the reasons for the reduction in humanitarian aid, Salim Al-Arkani, Executive Director of the Arakan Humanitarian Association, believes it is due to “overlapping political and financial factors and shifting priorities of the international community.”
He pointed to what is known as “donor fatigue” resulting from the prolonged Rohingya crisis, and the emergence of new global crises that gain more media and political momentum and capture funding.
He explained to the Arakan News Agency that the gap between actual needs and available funding is increasingly widening.
Annual humanitarian response plans are not fully funded, pushing international organizations to reduce food rations, which “infringes on the minimum standard of human dignity.”
Nasser Al-Ajmi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “Tanmeia” Charity, agrees with him.
He considered that changing funding priorities, donors shifting their attention to other competing global crises in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and a sense of apathy among donors after many years of the crisis without a clear political solution, are behind this decline.
He also mentioned additional reasons, represented by the global rise in food and energy prices, which increased the cost of humanitarian operations.
This pushed international organizations to reduce food rations to cover the largest possible number of refugees at a bare minimum for survival.
The Sea as an Escape from Hunger
According to “Al-Arkani,” these developments have already reflected on the conditions of the Rohingya inside the camps in Bangladesh.
Hunger and despair drive some to make dangerous decisions, such as attempting to migrate via unsafe boats, which has been witnessed in recent years and resulted in painful tragedies.
“Al-Ajmi” supports this view, pointing out that the lack of aid has become a direct motive for what is known as “migration of despair.”
The sea becomes a “rational choice” to search for a better life in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
This is despite the massive risks of these sea journeys, which saw an increase during 2025 and 2026, according to UN reports.
Al-Arkani and Al-Ajmi agreed that the continued reduction in aid somewhat reflects the marginalization of the Rohingya issue on the international stage.
This is in light of the refugees’ lack of political or economic weight, along with the absence of a radical political solution in Myanmar.
This has made the Rohingya file seem like a “chronic crisis” or a “forgotten crisis” that is merely being managed rather than solved.
Humanitarian Associations as an “Alternative Lifeline”
“Al-Arkani” called for strengthening the role of humanitarian associations and organizations, especially in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf, to bridge part of the funding gap.
This can be achieved by building direct partnerships with Rohingya organizations and implementing sustainable programs that include food security, education, and healthcare.
For his part, “Al-Ajmi” pointed to the ability of Arab and Gulf humanitarian organizations to bridge the funding gap through direct support via donations and Zakat.
He also suggested implementing development projects such as education, healthcare, and empowerment projects, like providing sewing machines and micro-enterprises, instead of settling for food baskets.
He noted that Kuwait is one of the most prominent supporters of this issue, combining urgent relief with sustainable development, participating in donor conferences, and coordinating with the UNHCR.
This is in addition to field monitoring to ensure that aid reaches those who deserve it.
A Prominent Kuwaiti Field Presence
This remarkable presence is carried out on the ground by the Kuwaiti “Tanmeia” Charity, as part of its relief and development efforts as one of the largest supporters of the Rohingya.
It has previously signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support health services for 15,000 Rohingya in the “Cox’s Bazar” camps.
The Kuwaiti association also established a medical camp to treat Rohingya children through surgeries, alongside providing basic food baskets for the refugees.
It has also contributed to providing clean drinking water by digging wells, as well as offering financial relief contributions.
