Episode: KPN 10-02-2025 

Rohingya refugee crisis demands more than temporary solutions – Human Concern USA

Funding shortages are threatening the sustainability of humanitarian aid for nearly one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, according to Human Concern USA.

While food assistance continues, other critical support such as healthcare, education, and sanitation, faces growing uncertainty. Non-governmental organisations, or NGOs, are struggling to fill the gaps, the global charity organisation said in a report on Sunday.

The 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine forced over 950,000 Rohingya refugees into the camps in Cox’s Bazar.

More than half of the refugees are children, and 80 percent rely entirely on humanitarian aid, the HC USA said, quoting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR.

However, funding remains critically low. In 2023, only 60 percent of the $876 million Joint Response Plan was secured, leaving essential services underfunded, the organisation said.

While the USAID has been a key contributor to humanitarian efforts, uncertainty surrounding broader US aid has raised concerns about the sustainability of support for the Rohingya crisis. In September 2024, the organisation said the USAID had pledged nearly $199 million for food, including 52,200 metric tonnes of food for 610,000 refugees.

The agency has also funded healthcare services, maternal and child health programmes, and water sanitation initiatives in the camps.

However, the potential suspension of broader aid raises concerns about long-term support, the HC USA said.

Healthcare, education, and sanitation are as essential as food aid in maintaining stability in the camps. NGOs have shouldered much of this burden, providing medical assistance, learning centres for children, and sanitation facilities to curb the spread of diseases.

However, with international funding increasingly uncertain, sustaining these efforts is becoming more difficult, the global charity said.

One such organisation, the HC USA, has been instrumental in delivering essential services to the Rohingya community.

In camp No. 4 in Cox’s Bazar, HC USA funds a health post offering emergency care, outpatient services, maternity care, diagnostics, and immunisations.

In 2022 alone, this facility treated 6,386 patients for conditions such as respiratory infections and waterborne diseases.

“The resilience of the Rohingya community inspires us every day,” said Masum Mahbub, CEO of HC USA.

“At HC USA, we are committed to ensuring that the most vulnerable among them have access to essential services, from healthcare to education. However, the current funding challenges underscore the urgent need for a collective global response”.

Despite the relentless efforts of NGOs, humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya refugees is at a tipping point. The partial suspension of broader aid could widen existing gaps, forcing organisations to stretch already limited resources.

Donations and grants, which fund NGO initiatives, are finite, making long-term solutions even more urgent, the charity said.

“The Rohingya crisis is not just a regional issue but a global humanitarian challenge requiring sustained international commitment. While food aid remains essential, a more comprehensive approach—including healthcare, education, sanitation, and shelter is necessary for long-term stability. Governments, donors, and humanitarian agencies must work together to ensure continued support and develop sustainable solutions beyond emergency relief.”

As global attention shifts to other crises, the Rohingya must not be forgotten. The ongoing funding challenges highlight the urgent need for a coordinated international response to prevent millions from being left without critical aid, it added.

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