The Republic of Korea Steps Up Support to the World Food Programme’s Food Assistance for Rohingya in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh — The Republic of Korea has stepped up its support to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with a new contribution of US$2 million. The timely funding enabled WFP to reach nearly 76,000 Rohingya and provide them with a full ration of US$12.50 for two months.
“We are pleased that this latest contribution, along with Korea’s rice donation in July and August, has helped many Rohingya families meet their essential food needs. The Republic of Korea stands committed to easing the Rohingya’s plight and we hope more partners will join us in supporting them,” said PARK Young-sik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh.
In recent years, the Government of Korea through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has steadily contributed to WFP’s Rohingya food assistance in Bangladesh. In addition to food assistance, WFP has been supporting the population with nutrition, school feeding, resilience-building, and disaster risk reduction assistance, while also assisting host Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar with nutrition, livelihood support, and resilience-building.
Despite ongoing needs, humanitarian partners have been facing significant funding challenges, resulting in reduced assistance. In 2023, food rations had to be cut from US$12 to US$10 in March, then to US$8 in June. Following the ration cuts, WFP monitoring showed a sharp decline in food consumption among Rohingya families, with global acute malnutrition (GAM) rising to 15.1% – above the 15% emergency threshold per WHO classification, and the worst since the 2017 influx.
In addition, frequent hazards such as fires, climate shocks, including floods and landslides, and insecurity in the camps, have further deepened the Rohingya’s vulnerability.
Thanks to the international community, WFP was able to raise the ration at the beginning of 2024 and in August to restore the full ration to US$12.50 per person per month. Fortified rice was also added to the assistance package for the first time. WFP needs nearly US$80 million in funding to sustain the full ration and the rest of its operations into the next year.
“The contribution from the Republic of Korea is not only timely but critical – it has helped us save lives and alleviate hunger at a time when the Rohingya are facing unimaginable challenges. Thank you, RoK and the Korean people for your compassion and solidarity,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director.
Photo Credit: WFP/Saikat Mojumder
Caption: A Rohingya woman leaves a WFP e-voucher outlet after purchasing food for her family in Cox’s Bazar. Since August, all Rohingya in the Cox’s Bazar camps have received their full food assistance, amounting to US$12.50 per person per month. Behind her, a porter hired by WFP helps carry her groceries.
About WFP:
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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COX’S BAZAR— The World Food Programme (WFP) has received a significant rice donation from the Republic of Korea (ROK) for its lifesaving assistance for the Rohingya population in Bangladesh. Today, an official handover ceremony of 15,000 MT of rice from ROK was held at WFP’s Maduchara Logistics Hub in Cox’s Bazar.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh, H.E. Young Sik Park; Director of the Food Grain Policy Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of Korea, Sang Moon Byun; Director of Korea Agro-Fisheries Food and Trade Corporation (aT), Danbee Lee; Md Kamrul Hasan, ndc, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR); Md Hasan Sarwar, Additional Secretary, MoDMR, and Head of Rohingya Cell; Md. Mohsin, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food; Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC); and WFP Country Director Dom Scalpelli were present at the handover ceremony.
The humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis has been led by the Government of Bangladesh since 2017, with the support of the international and humanitarian communities.
Since 2018, the Government of Korea, through MAFRA, has been making steady contributions to WFP’s humanitarian responses around the world. In 2024, the contribution doubled from 50,000 MT to 100,000 MT, enabling WFP to assist some 7 million people across 11 countries, including WFP Bangladesh.
Out of this, 15,000 MT of rice has been donated to Bangladesh for the first time, sufficient to feed around one million Rohingya for 1.5 months. The rice will undergo fortification to enhance its nutritional value before being distributed to Rohingya families in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char Island camps.
Md. Kamrul Hasan, ndc, Secretary, MoDMR said, “This humanitarian aid was very much needed from the Republic of Korea, as we struggled to feed the Rohingya last year. We are very much thankful for the longstanding partnership with Korea.”
“The Republic of Korea is dedicated to supporting humanitarian crises globally, particularly protracted ones. We commend the Government of Bangladesh for its steadfast commitment to the entire Rohingya population seeking refuge in their country over the years. With this donation, we help restore the full ration, alleviate hunger and malnutrition, and contribute to their overall well-being. We take pride in standing with WFP and the people and Government of Bangladesh in this vital mission,” remarked Sang Moon BYUN, Director of the Food Grain Policy Division, MAFRA.
“The donation is extremely timely and crucial to our efforts to restore the full ration for the Rohingya population. As their vulnerabilities continue to deepen amid reduced funding, unrelenting climate shocks, repeated hazards, and deteriorating security, our collective responsibility is to ensure their basic needs are met until they can go home safely one day. We thank MAFRA for this significant contribution and the Korean public for their solidarity with the Rohingya people,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director.
Following the handover ceremony, the Korean delegation visited an e-voucher outlet in the camps to observe the distribution of the rice donation. They also toured a rice fortification plant in Cox’s Bazar, where the Korean rice is fortified.
About WFP:
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on X @wfp_bangladesh, Facebook @WFPinBangladesh
About the Republic of Korea’s Rice Assistance:
The Republic of Korea has been a significant supporter of WFP’s efforts to combat hunger. Since 2018, the ROK has provided substantial rice donations to multiple countries, aiming to alleviate food shortages and support vulnerable populations. This initiative reflects the ROK’s commitment to international humanitarian aid and global food security.
DHAKA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is gearing up to restore its critical food assistance for the entire Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar. Starting 1 January 2024, WFP will increase the food ration from US$8 to US$10 per person per month, and gradually add locally fortified rice to its food assistance package.
“The year 2023 was a tumultuous one for the Rohingya in Bangladesh, who lived through multiple fire outbreaks, cyclones, and, for the first time, ration cuts. The rapid deterioration of the food and nutrition situation in the camps is extremely worrying. Through all this, the donor community stood with the Rohingya – it’s all thanks to its generous contributions we can now have this increase and also add locally fortified rice to WFP’s food assistance package,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh.
A sharp decline in resources led to a reduction in the Rohingya’s food entitlement in 2023. In March, the food voucher value for the entire population in the Cox’s Bazar camps was reduced from US$12 to US$10, and in June, to US$8 per person per month. Even before the ration cut, 40 percent of children under five were chronically malnourished and 12 percent were acutely malnourished.
Since then, WFP’s monitoring has shown a sharp decrease in food consumption and an increase in negative coping mechanisms among the population. By November, 90 percent of the population did not have adequate food consumption, up from 79 percent in June. Even more worrying is the fast deterioration of the nutrition status among children.
The preliminary results of the latest nutrition survey show that global acute malnutrition (GAM) has risen to 15.1 percent – the highest since the onset of the 2017 influx, exceeding the emergency threshold of 15 percent, according to WHO emergency classification.
In 2023, the refugees again endured multiple fire hazards and repeatedly cyclones, monsoon floods and landslides. Their vulnerability has further deepened due to the rising violence and insecurity in the camps, as well as human trafficking. As of 30 November, 3,468 Rohingya had embarked on risky boat journeys, almost half are women and children.
In addition to increasing the ration, WFP will begin the distribution of locally fortified rice to the Rohingya population. This will commence in one or two camps and gradually extend to all camps in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char Island.
“We remain fully committed to the Rohingya while supporting vulnerable Bangladeshis who have so generously hosted the Rohingya over the years. We are immensely grateful to all our donors for their unwavering support, and we count on them to step up even further to ensure we can provide the Rohingya with a full and nutritious ration in 2024,” added Scalpelli.
WFP currently has a funding gap of US$61 million to increase the food ration to the full amount, now US$12.5, with locally fortified rice added.
Photo Credit: WFP/Saikat Mojumder
Caption: Rohingya refugees collect their monthly food ration at a World Food Programme (WFP) e-voucher outlet in Cox’s Bazar. Starting January 1, 2024, WFP will increase the ration from $8 to $10 and gradually add locally fortified rice to its food assistance package.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on X @wfp_bangladesh, Facebook @WFPinBangladesh
For more information please contact:
Kun Li, Head of Partnerships, Communications and Reporting, WFP Bangladesh
Faced with a global funding shortage, the World Food Programme recently implemented a new round of food ration cuts for Rohingya refugees living in the world’s largest refugee camp.
The nutrition and health consequences stand to be devastating, particularly for women and children and the most vulnerable in the community.
Among those affected is 27-year-old Rukhsaira, who arrived from Burma (Myanmar). Her husband tragically passed away two years ago due to illness. Now, she is trying to raise her two children on her own. She said-
“Just six months ago, three meals per day were provided to us. Our plates were filled with a variety of nutritious options, including rice, bitter gourd, potato fry, eggs, sweet pumpkins, and ladies’ finger, accompanied by small fishes. Now we can only eat twice a day with my kids with only cucumbers and fish”
Due to a massive funding shortfall, drastic measures were taken. WFP was forced to cut the value of food vouchers for camp residents for the second time in three months at the beginning of June. From receiving $12 a month at the beginning of the year, refugees saw their rations cut to $10 in March, and now to just $8, or 27 cents a day.
With rations reduced, Rukhsaira and her children were left with only two meals each day. Their diet was now limited to cucumbers and fish, lacking the diverse range of nutrients they had previously enjoyed.
The consequences of these cuts have been severe. Previously, each person received approximately 2100 kilocalories (KCal) per day, ensuring sufficient intake for their well-being. However, the current ration provides less than 1700 KCal, exacerbating issues of malnutrition and hunger among the refugees.
The effects have been particularly pronounced among the most vulnerable individuals—children and the elderly. Their weakened immune systems have made them more susceptible to illnesses, resulting in prolonged struggles for recovery.
In addition to the physical challenges, the emotional toll on the refugee community has been substantial. Feelings of abandonment and insignificance have permeated throughout the camp as refugees face increasing anxiety and the reality of uncertain mealtimes. The burden weighs heavily on their minds, compounding the stress and anxiety already inherent in their displaced lives.
Despite these hardships, Rukhsaira considers herself relatively fortunate compared to others in the camp. As a single female head of household, she has been granted the opportunity to work in a Jute Production Centre, earning a modest income that helps meet the urgent needs of her family. Unfortunately, the vast majority of families lack this privilege, further exacerbating their precarious situation.
They continue to live in dire conditions, struggling to feed their children while witnessing the further deterioration of their already fragile health. Each day is a battle for survival, characterized by limited resources and an uncertain future.
Their hope now lies with the international community, as the United Nations and its partners fervently appeal for assistance and support to ensure that no one within the refugee camp goes hungry.
Media Contacts:
In Dhaka: Igor Sazonov, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, igor.sazonov@un.org, +8801321169633
In Cox’s Bazar: Syed Md Tafhim, Inter Sector Coordination Group, tafhim@iscgcxb.org, +8801850018235 and Faik Uyanık, Inter Sector Coordination Group, faik@iscgcxb.org, +8801847421667
Author: WFP | As told to Atanu Sarma. Edited by Antoine Vallas
Mohammed Yakub is 25 and has a 18-month-old son, Hujaifa Islam. WFP/Antoine Vallas Photo: WFP/Antoine Vallas
Four years into the Rohingya displacement crisis, 96 percent of the refugees in the Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh depend entirely on humanitarian assistance. That’s close to 900,000 people, 600,000 of whom live in Kutupalong, the largest refugee camp in the world, having fled violence in Myanmar.
We caught up with Yakub, a resident who is keen for the world not to forget the plight of the Rohingya. Currently, less than half of the US$943 million required for the overall Rohingya refugee response this year has been received. Rohingya communities, which this year alone have suffered unprecedented floods, a consequence of climate change, and devastating fires, need more support than ever.
People fleeing their homes in Myanmar reach Cox’s Bazar, in August 2017. Photo: WFP/Saikat Mojumdar
I am Yakub and I am Rohingya. I am from Rakhine state, Myanmar. Four years ago, in August 2017, our village was attacked, my neighbours’ houses were burned, and then mine. We ran west because there was no other direction.
I had no choice but to leave the land where I was born. Heading to Bangladesh took all our energy. We crossed mountains, muddy lands, and swam across streams.
Yakub shops for his monthly groceries in a WFP retail outlet. WFP’s outlets are stocked with staple items such as lentils, rice, vegetable oil, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables procured locally. WFP/Nihab Rahman
While fleeing, we were starving for many days. We ate banana leaves, drank water from canals. We didn’t have any money. The Government of Bangladesh welcomed us, the Bangladeshi people brought us cold water and food, and then NGOs started helping us. When we finally arrived in Kutupalong camp, we cut bamboo and built a shelter with tarpaulin… then we received food from the World Food Programme (WFP). Vehicles started to move and the camp got more organized. Only then did we feel some peace of mind.
Kutupalong in early 2017 was known as the ‘makeshift site’. Photo: WFP/Shehzad Noorani
I miss the places that made me feel at home in Myanmar. I miss sitting under the shade of the large tamarind trees, chatting with my friends. I miss the picnics in our garden. I miss our mosque, I miss the bamboo bridge that crossed the canal where we used to watch time go by.
Four years ago, we were getting rice, lentils and oil from WFP. Now we receive e-vouchers and we can buy fresh fruits, vegetables. Thanks to assistance from Bangladeshis and people from foreign countries, things have gotten better over the years. But life in Kutupalong camp isn’t easy. Our houses are small, the streets get muddy, too many people live here. Everywhere is crowded. [Just this year] we’ve had fires and floods.
We never thought we would be living in houses of tarpaulin. Some people are keeping small gardens, the camp is getting greener; I like the fresh air breezing from the trees in the evening. But here will never be like Myanmar. I miss home.
Yakub is calling for ‘continued support’. Photo: WFP/Antoine Vallas
My best memory of my four years in the camps was learning to take pictures and videos with a phone. I had never known how to use a mobile phone before. In 2018-19 WFP organized a storytelling training for a group of us. I have enjoyed capturing interesting and charming scenes from daily life, and looking at them in my free time. I love being able to share the stories of our people, our community, and my own story with the world. I would like to be a renowned journalist one day, and tell the forgotten story of the Rohingya.
I want to thank the world for helping us in the past four years. We can eat well, but most educational activities are suspended. We need continued support for food and education, and to give us a chance to safely go back to Myanmar.
As we start our fifth year in Kutupalong refugee camp, with the same challenges and the same worries, I am asking you not to forget us.
WFP’s food assistance to Rohingya refugees is now delivered entirely through e-vouchers, which can be used by refugees to buy staple foods and fresh local fruits and vegetables from a network of retail outlets across the camps. The programme is funded by generous contributions from Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, France, the United Arab Emirates, the United States Agency for International Development (Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance), Switzerland, the World Bank, as well as private donors.
