The Crime Desk: The speed of the repatriation process is not there; on the contrary, the international community has reduced food aid to the Rohingya. Bangladesh is going to face a new crisis due to the sudden decrease in food aid. If Rohingyas do not get proper food, the whole situation can become chaotic. This will threaten the stability of the entire region. Incidentally, there are more than 1 million Rohingyas in camps in Southeast Bangladesh, the world’s largest refugee settlement. They fled after being displaced by the Myanmar army about six years ago.
Analysts say that Bangladesh received praise from the international community for sheltering the displaced Rohingya. It is the international community that has punished Bangladesh by reducing food aid to the Rohingyas. Bangladesh has given the Rohingyas a place to stay and police for security. It was said that even if Bangladesh gives shelter, the world community will give food. But now they have also given it to Bangladesh. The United Nations has announced a reduction in food aid for Rohingya refugees due to a lack of funds.
However, many people think that there is a ‘geopolitical game’ behind this announcement. They also fear that the future of Bangladesh is not “favorable” for the Rohingyas. Incidentally, since June 1, the World Food Program has reduced the monthly food allocation for the Rohingya from $10 to $8 per person. Earlier, it was cut from $12 to $10. It has been seen that a Rohingya will get less than 8500 taka per month at the exchange rate of 105 taka per dollar. If you divide this 850 taka into three meals per day, the allocation per ‘meal’ (one meal) comes to 9 taka.
Those concerned said that under the pressure of the situation, Bangladesh will have to bear the entire shortage of food. It is said that the country may fall into an extreme food shortage. The top officials of the government are meeting at the Prime Minister’s office today at 3 p.m. to determine what to do in the situation. Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Tofazzal Hossain Mia presided over this meeting on the overall management and humanitarian assistance activities of ‘Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Citizens’. The Public Security Department, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and concerned officials, including the Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, will be present. Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and representatives of relevant UN agencies have also been asked to attend.
Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Md. Kamrul Hasan confirmed the truth of the matter and told the media that WFP has reduced the monthly food aid to the Rohingyas. Bangladesh has been asked to meet the deficit in aid. We did not agree to that. I told them in a letter that the responsibility for supporting the Rohingyas is not Bangladesh’s but of the world community. Not reducing food aid; rather, it should be increased. What happens in such a situation cannot be said until the meeting is over.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman told the media that as a result of the UN decision, more Rohingyas will take desperate measures to find work. In this way, they can spread to different parts of the country through various loopholes. After spreading across the country, not getting work can lead to various misdemeanors, which can make the situation even more chaotic. In addition, the Rohingyas in the camp will suffer from acute malnutrition. Anger and frustration will arise in them. Their reckless behavior will increase. Discontent and anarchy will increase with fights and murders. Apart from the drug and arms trade, anti-social activities will multiply in the camps. At one stage, it will be very difficult to control the Rohingyas. All in all, he told Bangladesh to be careful.
Those concerned said that Rohingyas are already dangerously crossing by boat to countries like Malaysia and Indonesia for work and food. Arif Ullah, an 18-year-old refugee living in the camp, said the existing food allowance was meager. Now how will we survive with more cuts? Mohammad Rejuan Khan, a Rohingya, said that if the situation continues to deteriorate, they will have no choice but to steal food to survive. He said UN food aid has pushed them into starvation. Stating that women and children are the most vulnerable due to ration cuts, he said the world community, including the United Nations, must immediately ensure the necessary food aid and other basic needs. Because refugees are totally dependent on aid to survive.
Earlier, during a four-day visit to the refugee camp last week, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly T. Clements said that refugees are completely dependent on humanitarian assistance for their basic needs. However, the minimum funding for this assistance is no longer available. As a result, aid has to be reduced.
It is known that since the Rohingya started coming to Bangladesh from Myanmar in 2017, WFP has been providing them with food, nutrition, and other urgent assistance. This emergency assistance was provided with the help of donor groups and partner organizations. Currently, there are about 1 million Rohingyas registered in Bangladesh, but in reality, this number is over 11 million. All were given food assistance equivalent to USD 12 per month through vouchers. Using these vouchers, Rohingya families can choose food from WFP outlets located in all camps. The United Nations is struggling to deliver food to vulnerable populations due to rising global food prices due to the COVID pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as funding shortfalls. WFP is cutting food aid in various countries, including Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
Similarly, last March, WFP’s food aid amount of $12 was reduced to $10. For the first time in nearly six years since the Rohingya crisis, the agency has reduced aid to Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar. After only three months, it was decided to reduce it from 10 dollars to 8 dollars starting June 1 for the same reason. Through this, 33 percent of the Rohingya’s daily ration will be reduced. That is, each Rohingya will be given food vouchers worth only 8 dollars (Tk 840) every month. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in an interview with NHK television during her recent visit to Japan that it is becoming difficult to run Rohingya camps in Bangladesh due to the increased cost of fuel and food.
