Food assistance for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's camps is being reduced starting Wednesday. The 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, legally prohibited from working in Bangladesh and largely reliant on humanitarian aid, previously received $12 per person monthly.
New Tiered System Takes Effect
Under a new tiered system introduced by the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP), the amount will vary based on family needs. Approximately 17% of the refugee population will now receive $7 per month, while a third classified as "extremely food insecure" will continue to receive $12.
Concerns from Residents and Officials
Camp residents, such as Mohammed Rahim, have expressed significant concern over the reduction, citing existing difficulties in feeding their families.
"We are already struggling to feed our families with the current assistance," stated Mohammed Rahim, a camp resident, highlighting the fears shared by many.
The WFP, however, stated that this change in food distribution is unrelated to previous funding cuts that saw the agency lose a third of its funding, and should not be described as a "ration cut."
The agency maintains that even those receiving $7 per month will still meet the minimum recommended standard of 2,100 calories per day for emergency food aid, and that the plan "strengthens fairness, transparency, and equity in food assistance."
However, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, characterized the change as a ration cut for the Rohingya. He expressed concern that the reduction could lead refugees to seek food and work outside the camps, potentially compromising law and order.
The Broader Context: A History of Hardship
The Rohingya fled attacks by Myanmar's military in 2017, an event the U.S. declared a genocide. The military's continued control of Myanmar following a 2021 coup makes safe return for the Rohingya virtually impossible.
Reductions in foreign aid last year contributed to increased hardship within the camps. These included school closures and an increase in reported incidents of kidnapping, child marriage, and child labor. Programs supporting the Rohingya were only about half-funded in 2025 and are 19 percent funded this year.
This is not the first time aid has been cut. In 2023, the WFP previously reduced rations to $8 a month due to a drop in donations.
By November of that year, 90% of camp residents reportedly could not afford an adequate diet, and 15% of children experienced acute malnutrition, which was the highest rate recorded in the camps.
Rations were restored to $12 a month in 2024.
Refugee Reactions and Desperation
Residents staged protests against the new system on Tuesday, calling for the restoration of full rations and holding signs about food as a right. Some residents are reportedly considering returning to Myanmar despite the risks, or attempting dangerous journeys to Malaysia by fishing boat due to the reduced assistance.