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In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the world’s most extensive refugee camp, a crowd of refugees from Myanmar’s Rohingya community has gathered in long lines to secure official registration cards for aid. These individuals have fled violence and persecution, seeking refuge in a camp now home to over a million people.
“The recent arrivals are all Rohingya who have come in the past month and they are in urgent need of assistance,” stated Abu Osman, a program manager at the NGO Agrajattra. This organization provides crucial vaccinations and health services to the camp’s residents.
However, Osman noted a distressing development: support services have recently diminished significantly, creating a challenging environment for those in need.
This shift follows an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump that halted much foreign aid for 90 days, creating instability not only in humanitarian efforts globally but more acutely in Cox’s Bazar, where conditions have been strained since a mass exodus of Rohingya occurred in August 2017 due to military crackdown in Myanmar.
The treatment of the Rohingya has been condemned by the United Nations, which characterizes the military’s actions as an “ethnic cleansing” campaign against one of the world’s most marginalized groups, known for their struggles with statelessness in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.
Despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing certain USAID payments to proceed, uncertainty looms over the future of foreign aid amidst ongoing legal challenges against the Trump administration’s policies.
‘All activities suddenly stopped’
The freeze on foreign aid has drastically impacted essential health operations within the camps, particularly for smaller NGOs focusing on community health initiatives and preventative care.
Although emergency food aid continues, disruptions in other critical areas—including sanitation and waste management—have become apparent. “Since the freeze, our operations are entirely halted, and 120 staff members have lost their jobs,” Osman explained before the Supreme Court decision was made public.
He further highlighted that before the shutdown, nearly all pregnant women could access hospital beds with the assistance of social workers, a figure that has now dropped to between 40 and 50 percent.
The U.S. has traditionally been a major donor in the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, providing a significant portion of foreign aid, which totaled $301 million last year alone.
Funding cuts have exacerbated the precarious situation, leading to a 35 percent shortfall in financial support for refugee services that aid their most essential needs, such as health, water, sanitation, and education.
“These funding reductions are compelling organizations to reallocate scarce resources to bridge urgent gaps,” stated Syed Md. Tafhim, a spokesperson for the Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG), which oversees the humanitarian response efforts for the Rohingya community.
‘Where will I give birth?’
Roshida, a refugee eight months pregnant and living in the Cox’s Bazar camp for over seven years, expresses her growing concern over the diminishing health services. “I’m worried. If the service is no longer available, where will I give birth?” she questioned, recalling past provisions for prenatal care that have gone missing in recent weeks.
Roshida, who manages her toddler in cramped living quarters surrounded by barbed wire, mourns the loss of regular check-ups and ambulance services that were once reliable. “They used to provide proper care, but now, nothing,” she lamented.
The cuts to health services are beginning to show dire consequences. Osman noted that the decline in service provisions has already been felt throughout the camp.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, during a recent trip to Cox’s Bazar, warned about the risks of decreased donor support leading to adverse outcomes for the hundreds of thousands reliant on aid.
Fear, uncertainty in camps
Thirteen-year-old Muhammad Khan, who suffers from a rare degenerative nerve disorder, exemplifies the tragic impact of the funding freeze. His mother, Yasmin, reported how the organization responsible for his treatment had to shut down its services due to the cuts. “All of these issues are increasing my stress levels,” she shared, concerned for the well-being of her son and the other children she cares for. Thankfully, they found interim funding for his essential treatment.
Muhammad’s case and those like it highlight the precariousness of the situation in the camps, where uncertainty hangs heavily. “There was shock; now we are trying to process it,” stated Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, who leads the agency managing Rohingya refugee support.
Support for Rohingya dropping
As foreign contributions continue to dwindle, the Rohingya, who remain stateless and vulnerable, face an ever-increasing struggle. The World Food Program has cut food rations by 50% due to a lack of funds, further adding to the distress among the refugees.
Current global events, such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, overshadow the plight of the Rohingya, prompting concerns that international focus is shifting away from their urgent needs.
Rahman expressed hope that the U.S. and other nations will not forget the Rohingya crisis and will address the financial strains on humanitarian aid to ensure that the most vulnerable continue to receive the assistance they desperately require.
Source
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