TL;DR: Rohingya Refugees Face Critical Humanitarian Crisis Due to Aid Cuts
Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, are grappling with life-threatening food shortages and deteriorating conditions as international aid dwindles.
• Over 1 million refugees depend on aid, but funds fell short of the $934 million needed in 2023.
• Food rations reduced to $8/month per person; malnutrition cases surged by 27%.
• Cuts in healthcare and education risk the lives and futures of vulnerable populations.
You can help: Support organizations like the WFP and Islamic Relief or advocate for global funding to address this crisis and save lives. Act now to make a difference!
Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, are facing a life-threatening crisis as international aid cuts lead to severe food shortages and declining living conditions. Over a million Rohingya refugees, displaced by violence and persecution in Myanmar, depend on humanitarian assistance for survival. However, recent funding reductions, particularly from major international contributors like the United States, have slashed critical lifelines such as food and healthcare. The situation worsened this year when humanitarian funding failed to meet the required $934 million budget to sustain essential services in one of the world’s most densely populated refugee camps.
What Led to the Aid Crisis?
This downturn in humanitarian aid is part of a broader trend of reduced funding for long-term refugee crises as global priorities shift. In Cox’s Bazar, the World Food Programme (WFP) lowered monthly food rations from $12 to $8 per person, a development that leaves families unable to meet basic nutritional needs. According to Hossain Shahid of Islamic Relief, the situation has fueled rising malnutrition, with children being the most vulnerable. At least 27% more cases of severe acute malnutrition were reported in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Funding cuts have also affected healthcare, shelter, and sanitation services. Many health centers in the camps are closing due to a lack of basic medical supplies, increasing the risks of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Refugees like Abdur Rashid share heartbreaking accounts of going to bed hungry, eating nothing but rice, lentils, and salt for weeks at a time. He echoes sentiments of many others who are too afraid to return to Myanmar yet struggle to survive in the ever-deteriorating camps.
Why Are the Cuts Happening?
Global aid fatigue and shifting donor priorities are key contributors to the crisis. The United States, previously a leading funder of aid programs in Cox’s Bazar, postponed or withdrew significant support under the Trump administration. Other international donors are also redirecting resources to newer crises or domestic needs, leaving long-standing emergencies like the Rohingya refugee camps critically underfunded.
What Are the Immediate Impacts?
- Rising Hunger: Food ration cuts leave most refugees consuming far fewer calories than recommended for basic survival.
- Health Deterioration: Untreated illnesses and lack of clean water are pushing refugees toward life-threatening conditions.
- Education at Risk: With funds vanishing, many learning centers are shutting down, leaving 500,000 children without access to education, potentially creating a lost generation.
- Desperation and Dangerous Migration: Funding cuts may push some refugees to attempt perilous sea journeys in search of better conditions or return to Myanmar despite ongoing violence.
What Can Be Done?
Addressing this humanitarian catastrophe requires immediate and coordinated international action:
- Increase Funding: Governments and organizations must step up to fill the funding gaps left by the U.S. and other prior contributors.
- Prioritize Food Security: The urgent restoration of adequate food rations should be the foremost priority.
- Support Grassroots Efforts: Encouraging initiatives that empower refugees to generate their own income could reduce dependency on dwindling aid.
- Expand Safe Migration Options: Safe relocation programs to other countries willing to accept refugees could relieve overcrowding in the camps.
How You Can Support Positive Change
For individuals looking to help, supporting reputable organizations working on the ground, like Islamic Relief or the WFP, is a critical first step. These groups provide essential services such as food distribution and healthcare within the camps.
In the face of this crisis, platforms like MELA AI are a good example of how technology and awareness campaigns can bridge gaps and guide people into supportive actions. If you live in Malta or elsewhere and desire to contribute through advocacy or awareness programs, consider leveraging such tools to spread the word or assist in funding needs.
Explore more humanitarian challenges and ways to help through resources listed on MELA AI. Let’s work toward fostering impactful, compassionate, and driven responses to crises like the one faced by the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Together, small efforts can lead to life-saving changes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rohingya Refugees Facing the Humanitarian Crisis in Cox’s Bazar
What has caused aid cuts for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar?
The current crisis in Cox’s Bazar stems from global aid fatigue and shifting priorities among donors. Long-term refugee emergencies like the Rohingya crisis often lose focus as newer conflicts emerge worldwide. A significant cutback came from the United States, where the Trump administration slashed funding for USAID, which previously contributed around 55% of the relief budget in Cox’s Bazar. This has led to severe reductions in humanitarian assistance, including food rations, healthcare access, and education services. For instance, food rations from the World Food Programme (WFP) have been cut from $12 to $8 per person monthly, leaving refugees dangerously malnourished. Learn more about food aid struggles in the detailed coverage by The Independent.
How severe is the food shortage among Rohingya refugees?
Food shortages are at critically alarming levels. The reduction in daily rations has forced families to survive on lentils, rice, and salt alone, often skipping meals entirely. Malnutrition rates, especially among children, have spiked, with Islamic Relief reporting a 27% increase in severe acute malnutrition cases from 2024 to 2025. This ration reduction directly impacts the survival of over 1 million Rohingya refugees who already struggle with inadequate shelter and limited clean water access. The World Food Programme highlights this tragic development in their latest report, Rising Hunger Among Rohingya Refugees.
Is there a risk of diseases in the refugee camps?
Yes, severe risks of disease outbreaks are growing due to poor sanitation, water scarcity, and healthcare facility closures. Lack of clean drinking water and soap has exacerbated the spread of waterborne illnesses like cholera and skin diseases. Many health centers within the camps can no longer procure basic medical supplies due to funding cuts. Refugees face amplified health risks, including diarrhea and malnutrition-linked disorders. International health organizations are alarmed, urging action to prevent avoidable deaths. ReliefWeb discusses this alarming situation further in their publication on the effects of U.S.-led aid cuts, Healthcare Crisis in Refugee Camps.
What immediate actions are being proposed to address the crisis?
Organizations like Islamic Relief and UNHCR propose urgent measures to combat the crisis:
- Governments and NGOs must step in with emergency relief funding to cover the $934 million budget shortfall for essential services.
- Special focus should be directed toward restoring adequate food rations and healthcare accessibility.
- Education programs need revival to prevent the loss of an entire generation of Rohingya children.
- Expanding safe resettlement programs to willing host nations is vital to reduce overcrowding in Cox’s Bazar. The UN Refugees International lists potential ways to mobilize global support for the Rohingya.
What risks do the Rohingya face if they attempt to return to Myanmar?
Most refugees fear returning to Myanmar due to a lack of safety and ongoing violence. Reports from Myanmar reveal oppression and confinement of remaining Rohingya communities in camps devoid of movement and livelihood opportunities. Refugees like Abdur Rashid, living in Cox’s Bazar since 2019, express hesitation about returning due to fears for their safety while struggling daily with hunger in Bangladesh. Learn more about these challenges in the comprehensive story by Human Rights Watch.
How can grassroots efforts help reduce dependency on aid?
Empowering refugees through grassroots programs like skills training and micro-finance initiatives can create opportunities for self-reliance. These programs emphasize economic independence by awarding micro-grants for farming, cooking, handicrafts, and small-scale businesses within camps. This could reduce dependency on fluctuating global aid and stabilize refugee incomes incrementally. The EU’s approach to providing livelihoods-focused development assistance to camps has been outlined here, EU Support to Rohingya Refugees.
How can individuals contribute to solving the Rohingya crisis?
For those seeking to help the Rohingya crisis, supporting trusted humanitarian organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and Islamic Relief is essential. Donations can go directly toward providing critical supplies like food, clean water, and healthcare services. Advocacy through social media and awareness campaigns also plays a crucial role in mobilizing governments worldwide to prioritize international aid for Cox’s Bazar. Learn more about direct humanitarian contributions through the USA for UNHCR.
How are food shortages impacting education in refugee camps?
Funding gaps have jeopardized education services, with thousands of learning centers closing within Cox’s Bazar. Approximately 500,000 children risk losing access to any form of education, leading to a potential “lost generation.” Without adequate learning opportunities, children are left vulnerable to exploitation, human trafficking, and recruitment by extremist groups. Education restoration efforts are urgently needed, ensuring longevity for this displaced generation. Save the Children highlights these effects, Education Crisis in Cox’s Bazar.
How is MELA AI promoting healthy food access and awareness for humanitarian causes?
MELA AI, Malta’s innovative directory for restaurants, is pushing the boundaries of awareness for food security and compassionate dining. By highlighting restaurants that prioritize sustainability and health-conscious menus, MELA AI indirectly champions causes like global hunger relief. Engaging with MELA ensures that local and global diners embrace social responsibility by dining at establishments that contribute to humanitarian movements. To discover environmentally responsible restaurants in Malta or initiatives inspired by global crises like Rohingya refugees, explore MELA AI’s Directory.
Why are partnerships with MELA AI valuable for refugee and humanitarian advocacy?
MELA AI’s influence extends beyond Malta’s culinary scene by promoting restaurateurs who create a positive global impact. Through eco-friendly practices, corporate sponsorships, and awareness campaigns, MELA motivates restaurants to join initiatives addressing hunger crises. Restaurants awarded MELA stickers are recognized for advancing sustainable food policies, an essential step in advocating for ethical humanitarian programs. Leverage MELA’s insight for impactful advocacy through their platform, Discover the MELA Partnership Benefits.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp’s expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
