Bangladesh: Cutting aid means people will starve

Overcrowded Rohingya refugee camp

Source: CAFOD

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced plans to cut their food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in half, from next month, due to a lack of donations. This is one of the first tangible examples of the impact of reduced funding for overseas aid.

Two CAFOD staff members, Richard Sloman and Phil Talman, are currently visiting projects in Bangladesh. Responding to news of the aid cuts, Phil said: "What we're seeing here is the impact of reduced funding for essential aid that preserves life at its most basic level.

"It's pretty straightforward: removing aid from food programmes serving the world's poorest, means people will starve.

"The UK is one of the top aid donors to the Rohingya refugee crisis. Current rations of less than £10 a month is already barely enough to maintain life. If the WFP has to cut that in half, it may result in dire food shortages and malnutrition. If UK cuts to Bangladesh are to follow, the consequences for the region could be catastrophic."

Read more about the Rohingya crisis here: https://cafod.org.uk/news/emergencies-news/rohingya-crisis