Irrawaddy-Feb 17
United Nations experts have warned of possible catastrophe for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps if their life-saving food aid is slashed and issued an urgent plea for donations to the UN World Food Program (WFP). The appeal comes as the WFP is in the process of reducing monthly assistance for 953,000 Rohingyas registered under family card schemes from US$12 to $10 per head, according to aid workers based in Cox’s Bazar. The UN experts said the World Food Program signaled it would cut rations for Rohingya refugees by 17 per cent in March and warned that if no new funding commitments were made by April, deeper cuts would have to be made. The WFP is appealing for $125 million in funding to avoid ration cuts. Bangladeshi officials said fund shortages have already hit aid provision, with many non-profit organizations cutting jobs by 30% to manage costs. “The most vulnerable, including children under five, adolescent girls, and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, will be particularly exposed,” said Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and Thomas Andrews, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. “The Rohingya, survivors of genocidal attacks by the Myanmar military, are now further victimized by the failure of the international community to ensure their basic right to food.” Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/asia/slashing-food-aid-for-rohingya-invites-catastrophe-experts-warn.html
