UN calls for increased support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have issued an urgent appeal to the international community to ramp up support for the Rohingya Muslim refugees living in camps in Bangladesh.

Urgent appeal for increased aid

In a joint statement, UNHCR, IOM, and their partners emphasized the dire need for international assistance as insecurity continues to escalate in Myanmar and forced displacements remain ongoing. The organizations called on the international community to increase their efforts in providing aid to the Rohingya refugees and the host communities in Bangladesh.

The statement highlighted that the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, dwindling financial resources, and global crises have made it critical for the international community to act for the Rohingya refugees, who remain in a situation of extreme vulnerability and complete dependence on humanitarian aid.

The 2025-2026 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis brings together 113 partners and is being co-led by UNHCR and IOM, under the leadership of the Bangladesh government.

For the first time, a funding appeal has been launched specifically to address the needs of the Rohingya refugees and host communities, aiming to reach approximately 1.48 million people in its first year, with a request for $934.5 million.

Forgotten crisis: Rohingya humanitarian needs

Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by the Rohingya for the past eight years, international attention has largely shifted away, even though the needs remain urgent. More than 50% of the population in the camps is made up of women and girls, with one in three Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh being between the ages of 10 and 24.

These individuals, without access to formal education, skill development, or opportunities for self-sufficiency, face an uncertain future.

The statement stressed that any funding gaps in critical areas such as food aid and basic shelter would have disastrous consequences for this highly vulnerable population.

This could drive many Rohingya refugees to take desperate measures, such as embarking on dangerous boat journeys in search of safety.

Ethnic cleansing and genocide: Rohingya crisis

According to the United Nations, more than 900,000 refugees fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state after August 25, 2017, and sought refuge in Bangladesh. Half of the refugees in the camps are children. International human rights organizations and the UN have described the violence against the Rohingya Muslims as “ethnic cleansing” or “genocide.”

Refugees and human rights groups have expressed fears that without the provision of necessary safety measures, any attempt to return the Rohingya to Myanmar could lead to another round of ethnic cleansing.

WFP, Bank provide food aid to Rohingya mothers and caregivers

The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Bank have announced that food vouchers will be distributed to Rohingya Muslim mothers and caregivers in Bangladesh who fled their countries because of ongoing conflicts. In collaboration with the Bangladesh Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the World Bank Bangladesh partnership has launched a critical project to support the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

The project will provide food vouchers to mothers and caregivers of young children to allow them to purchase nutritious foods rich in vegetables and proteins.

According to WFP, the rate of malnutrition among children under the age of five in Bangladesh is about 15%, with 20% of children under two years old affected. Without urgent financial support, daily food rations for more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh will need to be halved.

Strengthening food security for Rohingya families

The project also plans to improve food security for Rohingya families through initiatives such as vegetable gardening, aquaculture, and mushroom production.

These efforts aim to enhance the overall food supply and self-sufficiency of the refugees.

UN Chief’s call for immediate action

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Cox’s Bazar last week to show solidarity with the Rohingya. He expressed concern that funding cuts could lead to severe hardships for the refugees in Bangladesh and issued a call for urgent assistance.