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Gulf Today
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
UN slashes food rations for Rohingya refugees due to US aid cuts
Rations will be halved for around one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from next month due to a lack of funds, the United Nations (UN) food agency has said. Meanwhile, the United Nations' migration agency has also slashed aid to hundreds of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, according to a letter seen by Reuters and two people briefed on the matter, because of massive funding cuts by their biggest donor, the United States. In the letter, dated Feb.28, the International Organisation for Migration said it would be unable to provide healthcare and cash assistance to 925 Rohingya refugees sheltering in the western city of Pekanbaru from March 5, "due to resource constraints." Some help would continue for the most vulnerable people, it said. Huge numbers of the persecuted and stateless Rohingya community live in squalid relief camps in Bangladesh, most arriving after having fled from a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. Successive aid cuts have already caused severe hardship among Rohingya in the overcrowded settlements, who are reliant on aid and suffer from rampant malnutrition. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said in a letter on Wednesday that "severe funding shortfalls" had forced a cut in monthly food vouchers from $12.50 to $6.00 per person. "Unfortunately, we have still not received sufficient funding, and cost-saving measures alone are not enough," the letter said. Md. Shamsud Douza of Bangladesh's refugee agency told reporters that his office would meet community leaders next week to discuss the cuts. A decision by US President Donald Trump's administration to make drastic cuts to foreign aid has sent shockwaves through humanitarian initiatives worldwide. But WFP's Kun Li said that the United States remained a donor for Rohingya aid and the ration cuts reflected a "funding gap across multiple sources." Funds raised were only half the $852 million sought by foreign aid agencies, she told reporters. Wednesday's letter comes days before a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is slated to meet Rohingya refugees to mark the annual Muslim Ramadan fast. The 2017 crackdown in Myanmar — now the subject of a UN genocide investigation — sent around 750,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh with harrowing stories of murder, rape and arson. Bangladesh has struggled to support its refugee population. The prospects of a wholesale return to Myanmar or resettlement elsewhere are remote. Rohingya living in the camps around Cox's Bazar are not allowed to seek employment and are almost entirely dependent on limited humanitarian aid to survive. Large numbers of refugees have attempted hazardous sea crossings in an effort to find a better life away from the camps, including more than 250 Rohingya who arrived in Indonesia in January. The head of the UN refugee agency Filippo Grandi recently said in a post on X during a visit to Cox's Bazar that if donor support to the camps "decreases dramatically - which may happen - the huge work done by the Bangladesh government, aid agencies and refugees will be impacted, putting thousands at risk of hunger, disease and insecurity." A previous round of ration cuts to Rohingya in 2023 that reduced the amount of food rations to $8 monthly led to a sharp increase in hunger and malnutrition, according to the UN.
Japan Times
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Rohingya refugee food aid to be halved from next month: U.N.
Bangladesh – A lack of funds will force rations to be halved for around 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from next month, the United Nations food agency has said. Huge numbers of the persecuted and stateless Rohingya community live in squalid relief camps in Bangladesh, most arriving after having fled from a 2017 military crackdown in neighboring Myanmar. Successive aid cuts have already caused severe hardship among Rohingya in the overcrowded settlements, who are reliant on aid and suffer from rampant malnutrition. The U.N. World Food Program said in a letter on Wednesday that "severe funding shortfalls" had forced a cut in monthly food vouchers from $12.50 to $6.00 per person. "Unfortunately, we have still not received sufficient funding, and cost-saving measures alone are not enough," the letter said. Md. Shamsud Douza of Bangladesh's refugee agency said that his office would hold a meeting with community leaders next week to discuss the implications of the cuts. Wednesday's letter comes days before a visit by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is slated to meet Rohingya refugees to mark the annual Muslim Ramadan fast. The 2017 crackdown in Myanmar — now the subject of a U.N. genocide investigation — sent around 750,000 Rohingya fleeing into Bangladesh with harrowing stories of murder, rape and arson. Bangladesh has struggled to support its immense refugee population and the prospects of a wholesale return to Myanmar or resettlement elsewhere are remote. Rohingya living in the camps around Cox's Bazar are not allowed to seek employment and are almost entirely dependent on limited humanitarian aid to survive. Large numbers of refugees have attempted hazardous sea crossings in an effort to find a better life away from the camps, including more than 250 Rohingya who arrived in Indonesia in January.
Al Arabiya
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Rohingya refugee food aid to be halved from next month, says UN
Rations will be halved for around one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from next month due to a lack of funds, the United Nations food agency has said. Huge numbers of the persecuted and stateless Rohingya community live in squalid relief camps in Bangladesh, most arriving after having fled from a 2017 military crackdown in neighboring Myanmar. Successive aid cuts have already caused severe hardship among Rohingya in the overcrowded settlements, who are reliant on aid and suffer from rampant malnutrition. The UN World Food Program (WFP) said in a letter on Wednesday that 'severe funding shortfalls' had forced a cut in monthly food vouchers from $12.50 to $6.00 per person. 'Unfortunately, we have still not received sufficient funding, and cost-saving measures alone are not enough,' the letter said. Md. Shamsud Douza of Bangladesh's refugee agency told AFP that his office would meet community leaders next week to discuss the cuts. A decision by US President Donald Trump's administration to make drastic cuts to foreign aid has sent shockwaves through humanitarian initiatives worldwide. But WFP's Kun Li said that the United States remained a donor for Rohingya aid and the ration cuts reflected a 'funding gap across multiple sources'. Funds raised were only half the $852 million sought by foreign aid agencies, she told AFP. Wednesday's letter comes days before a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is slated to meet Rohingya refugees to mark the annual Muslim Ramadan fast. The 2017 crackdown in Myanmar - now the subject of a UN genocide investigation -- sent around 750,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighboring Bangladesh with harrowing stories of murder, rape and arson. Bangladesh has struggled to support its refugee population. The prospects of a wholesale return to Myanmar or resettlement elsewhere are remote. Rohingya living in the camps around Cox's Bazar are not allowed to seek employment and are almost entirely dependent on limited humanitarian aid to survive. Large numbers of refugees have attempted hazardous sea crossings in an effort to find a better life away from the camps, including more than 250 Rohingya who arrived in Indonesia in January.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rohingya refugee food aid to be halved from next month: UN
Rations will be halved for around one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from next month due to a lack of funds, the United Nations food agency has said. Huge numbers of the persecuted and stateless Rohingya community live in squalid relief camps in Bangladesh, most arriving after having fled from a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. Successive aid cuts have already caused severe hardship among Rohingya in the overcrowded settlements, who are reliant on aid and suffer from rampant malnutrition. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said in a letter on Wednesday that "severe funding shortfalls" had forced a cut in monthly food vouchers from $12.50 to $6.00 per person. "Unfortunately, we have still not received sufficient funding, and cost-saving measures alone are not enough," the letter said. Md. Shamsud Douza of Bangladesh's refugee agency told AFP that his office would meet community leaders next week to discuss the cuts. A decision by US President Donald Trump's administration to make drastic cuts to foreign aid has sent shockwaves through humanitarian initiatives worldwide. But WFP's Kun Li said that the United States remained a donor for Rohingya aid and the ration cuts reflected a "funding gap across multiple sources". Funds raised were only half the $852 million sought by foreign aid agencies, she told AFP. Wednesday's letter comes days before a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is slated to meet Rohingya refugees to mark the annual Muslim Ramadan fast. The 2017 crackdown in Myanmar -- now the subject of a UN genocide investigation -- sent around 750,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh with harrowing stories of murder, rape and arson. Bangladesh has struggled to support its refugee population. The prospects of a wholesale return to Myanmar or resettlement elsewhere are remote. Rohingya living in the camps around Cox's Bazar are not allowed to seek employment and are almost entirely dependent on limited humanitarian aid to survive. Large numbers of refugees have attempted hazardous sea crossings in an effort to find a better life away from the camps, including more than 250 Rohingya who arrived in Indonesia in January. sa/gle/pjm
Express Tribune
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Israel extends Gaza ceasefire for six weeks amid Ramadan
Israeli army soldiers walk during a military operation in the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees in the north of the occupied West Bank on February 3, 2025. Photo: AFPIsraeli army soldiers walk during a military operation in the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees in the north of the occupied West Bank on February 3, 2025. Photo: PHOTO: AFP Listen to article The Israeli government has approved a temporary extension of the ceasefire in Gaza for the next six weeks, covering both the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods. The decision comes shortly after the first phase of the ceasefire, agreed upon earlier, expired at midnight on Saturday. The extension announcement was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, which said the proposal was part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff. Under the plan, half of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza – both alive and deceased – would be released on the first day. The remaining hostages would be freed if an agreement for a permanent ceasefire is reached. In a statement, Netanyahu's office claimed that Hamas had 'so far refused' to support the Witkoff plan but stated that Israel would be ready to resume negotiations if Hamas changed its position. The ceasefire extension followed a four-hour meeting convened by Netanyahu, during which the Israeli government reaffirmed its position. The US envoy's plan includes a 42-day window for Israel to return to fighting if it believes negotiations on a second phase have failed. However, Hamas has stated that it remains firm on implementing the second phase of the ceasefire following Israel's approval of a temporary extension of the initial phase. 'The only path to achieving stability in the region and ensuring the return of prisoners is to fully implement the agreement, beginning with the second phase,' Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi told AFP in a statement. On Friday night, Hamas made it clear that it would not agree to any extension without guarantees from American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that phase two would be implemented. The first phase of the ceasefire, which came into effect on 19 January, halted 15 months of fighting between Hamas and Israel. It led to the release of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, negotiations for phase two, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, have barely begun. It is believed that 24 hostages are still alive, while another 39 are presumed to be dead.
