The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $23.8 million in humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh to deliver urgent food and nutrition assistance to Rohingyas.
With this new funding, the USAID will work with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide critically needed food and nutrition, including electronic vouchers to purchase staple and fresh foods, feeding 925,000 Rohingyas, with a focus on children and pregnant and lactating women in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
The assistance comes at a critical time amidst a funding shortfall of nearly $100 million, which has led to a reduction of food rations in the Rohingya camps, read a press release.
“The United States remains committed to delivering assistance to refugees and impacted communities in Bangladesh, but much more is needed. We urge other donors to join us in providing additional assistance to meet the needs of the Rohingya refugees,” said US Ambassador Peter Haas.
“We also urge the government of Bangladesh to allow the Rohingya population to engage in more sustainable livelihood-building activities, enabling them to reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid,” he added.
Since 2017, the United States has provided over $2 billion of assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis, with nearly $100 million in food aid in 2023.
