Raising funds for Rohingyas has become challenging: Shafiqul Alam

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam highlighted the growing difficulty in mobilizing funds for Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, as many countries are less willing to contribute than before.

Referring to talks between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and World Food Programme (WFP) acting Executive Director Carl Skau in Rome, Alam emphasized efforts to secure funding from new sources, including wealthy nations and multilateral institutions.

Since renewed clashes in Rakhine in 2024, Bangladesh has taken in 150,000 more Rohingyas, bringing the total to 1.3 million. This large population poses a significant challenge that demands substantial funding.

Despite the challenges, Bangladesh continues to provide refuge, setting an example globally. The country stresses the importance of diversifying funding sources, with Western and wealthy nations currently providing support.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi warned that funding prospects for next year are bleak. Without new resources, cuts will be necessary, risking malnutrition deaths and dangerous sea journeys for refugees.

Grandi urged more funding and sustainable solutions such as resettlement, education, and labor mobility, in line with the Global Refugee Forum pledges.

WFP’s Carl Skau reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to food assistance for the 1.3 million Rohingya refugees, stating that the crisis remains a top priority for the Rome-based UN agency.