The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is taking steps to address the pressing food assistance needs of the entire Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar, announcing initiatives set to commence on January 1, 2024. WFP plans to raise the monthly food ration from US$8 to US$10 per person and gradually introduce locally fortified rice into the food assistance package. Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh, expressed gratitude for the donor community’s support amid the challenges faced by the Rohingya in 2023, marked by fire outbreaks, cyclones, and ration reductions.
The year 2023 witnessed a tumultuous period for the Rohingya in Bangladesh, with multiple crises affecting their lives, including fires, cyclones, and unprecedented ration cuts. Amidst these challenges, the food and nutrition situation in the camps rapidly deteriorated, prompting WFP’s response. Scalpelli acknowledged the generosity of the donor community, attributing the ability to enhance the food ration and include locally fortified rice to their contributions.
A decline in resources in 2023 led to a reduction in the Rohingya’s food entitlement, with the value of food vouchers dropping from US$12 to US$10 in March and further to US$8 per person per month in June. Even before the ration cuts, alarming malnutrition rates were prevalent among children under five, with 40 percent chronically malnourished and 12 percent acutely malnourished.
WFP’s monitoring revealed a significant decrease in food consumption and an increase in negative coping mechanisms among the Rohingya population since the ration cuts. By November, 90 percent of the population experienced inadequate food consumption, up from 79 percent in June. Particularly concerning was the swift deterioration in the nutrition status of children, as reflected in the rising global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate, reaching 15.1 percent – surpassing the emergency threshold of 15 percent.
The vulnerability of the Rohingya deepened throughout 2023 due to various challenges, including repeated fire hazards, cyclones, monsoon floods, landslides, rising violence, insecurity in the camps, and human trafficking. As of November 30, 3,468 Rohingya had embarked on perilous boat journeys, nearly half of whom were women and children.
In addition to increasing the food ration, WFP announced plans to distribute locally fortified rice to the Rohingya population. This initiative will commence in one or two camps and gradually expand to include all camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char Island. Scalpelli reiterated WFP’s unwavering commitment to the Rohingya and expressed gratitude to donors while emphasizing the need for increased support to bridge the current funding gap of US$61 million.
