UN Chief Blasts Rohingya Aid Cuts as ‘Criminal’ Amid Global Indifference
COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a scathing rebuke against recent humanitarian aid cuts to Rohingya refugees, labeling them as “a crime.” His remarks, made during a crucial four-day visit to Bangladesh, highlight the worsening crisis as over one million displaced Rohingya face dwindling international support and an uncertain future.
A Crisis Deepening Amid Global Neglect
The U.N.’s World Food Program (WFP) has sounded the alarm, warning that food assistance may be slashed by half starting in April unless urgent funds are secured. The crisis is exacerbated by shifting global priorities, with Western nations ramping up military expenditures while scaling back commitments to humanitarian causes.
In a meeting with Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, Guterres denounced these funding reductions as an egregious failure of moral and ethical responsibility.
“(Aid) cuts are a crime,” Guterres stated, as reported by Bangladesh’s state-run news agency, condemning the stark contrast between growing defense budgets and the abandonment of vulnerable refugee populations.
The U.S. Abandons Its Leadership Role
Historically the largest donor to the Rohingya crisis, the United States has played a key role in sustaining aid efforts. In 2024 alone, the U.S. provided approximately $300 million in emergency food and nutrition aid. However, Washington’s abrupt decision to shut down USAID operations in Bangladesh has sent shockwaves through humanitarian circles.
A confidential WFP letter warned that unless $81 million is secured to sustain operations through the end of the year—including a critical $15 million needed by April—food rations could drop to a meager $6 per month per refugee, down from the already insufficient $12.50. Such drastic reductions would push the Rohingya population into extreme deprivation, heightening the risks of malnutrition and starvation.
Bangladesh’s Limited Capacity
Bangladesh has pledged to continue supporting the Rohingya despite diminishing international aid. However, given the immense financial burden, questions remain over the feasibility of this commitment.
Interim Prime Minister Yunus, who assumed office following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in a mass uprising, has advocated for the “dignified return” of the Rohingya to Myanmar. Yet, any repatriation efforts remain mired in diplomatic deadlock and security concerns, as Myanmar continues to be plagued by instability and accusations of genocide against the Rohingya population.
A Crisis Forgotten?
Despite sporadic media attention, the Rohingya crisis has been steadily sidelined by shifting geopolitical priorities. Myanmar’s internal conflicts continue to displace thousands, with an estimated 70,000 additional Rohingya fleeing into Bangladesh in 2024 due to escalating violence between the military junta and opposition groups like the Arakan Army.
Guterres underscored the necessity of renewed international engagement: “We cannot accept that the international community forgets about the Rohingya.”
Yet, as Western donors retreat from their commitments and the world’s focus shifts to other conflicts, the fate of the Rohingya grows increasingly precarious. Without urgent funding and a long-term solution, the crisis risks devolving into a prolonged humanitarian catastrophe with irreversible consequences.
Reference
UN Chief Blasts Rohingya Aid Cuts as ‘Criminal’ Amid Global Indifference