The United Nations has appealed for $1 billion in humanitarian aid to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In a statement on Friday, the UN announced the launch of the “2025-26 Joint Response Plan,” which requires $934.5 million to ensure food, healthcare, and other essential services for the refugees.
According to the UN, “There are currently 1.48 million Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh. They have been in exile for eight years, yet a permanent solution to their crisis remains elusive.” The organization warned that reducing donor contributions could lead to a severe humanitarian disaster in the refugee camps.
The Rohingya crisis escalated in 2017 when hundreds of thousands fled to Bangladesh following a military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. While the Bangladeshi government initially provided shelter, international organisations, including the UN, later took charge of food and aid distribution. The World Food Programme (WFP) currently oversees food assistance for the refugees, previously funded primarily by the United States through USAID. However, with US funding cuts, the crisis has worsened.
The UN emphasized that continued humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh is essential until the stability of Myanmar’s Rakhine state is restored. It urged the international community to maintain its support to prevent further deterioration.
By Rajin Saleh
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