UN Warns Funding Cuts Could Worsen Rohingya Crisis in Bangladesh

The United Nations has warned that declining international funding could significantly worsen the already fragile humanitarian situation facing Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, raising concerns over food security, health services, and shelter conditions in overcrowded camps.

The warning comes as aid agencies struggle to maintain essential services for more than one million Rohingya refugees living in camps in Cox’s Bazar, many of whom fled violence in Myanmar.

UN agencies say recent funding cuts and reduced donor contributions are forcing difficult decisions about scaling back assistance, including food rations, healthcare, and education programmes.

Humanitarian officials caution that any further reduction could push vulnerable families deeper into poverty and increase dependence on already overstretched local resources.

The Rohingya camps in southeastern Bangladesh remain among the world’s largest and most densely populated refugee settlements, with limited infrastructure and exposure to seasonal flooding and landslides.

Aid groups warn that weakened support systems could worsen health risks, malnutrition, and protection concerns, particularly for women and children.

The UN and partner organisations are calling on donor countries to urgently restore and increase funding to prevent a deterioration in living conditions.

Officials stress that sustained humanitarian assistance is critical to preventing a deeper crisis and maintaining stability in the region.

Without additional funding, agencies warn that essential services may continue to shrink, increasing the vulnerability of displaced populations already reliant on international aid for survival.