DHAKA, Bangladesh: The World Food Programme (WFP) announced an increase in the monthly food ration for each Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh from $8 to $10 starting January 1st, acknowledging donors for stepping in to support the cash-strapped initiative.
Last year, the United Nations had reduced food aid to $8 per refugee per month due to insufficient funds, despite the initial entitlement being $12 in March, which was gradually reduced amidst a funding shortage. These adjustments affected nearly a million Rohingya refugees who sought shelter in Cox’s Bazar after fleeing Myanmar’s military crackdown in 2017.
“The rapid deterioration of the food and nutrition situation in the camps is extremely worrying,” Dom Scalpelli, the agency’s director in Bangladesh, said in a statement.
“Through all this, the donor community stood with the Rohingya – it’s all thanks to its generous contributions we can now have this increase and also add locally fortified rice to WFP’s food assistance package. ”
