UN warns of funding crisis for Rohingya children as aid dries up
The United Nations warned on Tuesday that its ability to support Rohingya children in Bangladesh’s refugee camps is rapidly shrinking, with financial support set to dry up in 2026. UNICEF’s Carla Haddad Mardini expressed concern over the situation, noting that services like education, water, and sanitation are already facing severe cuts.
Around a million Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar in 2017, and despite a surge of 150,000 new arrivals in 2024, aid is dwindling. The U.S. and other major donors have reduced funding, creating a funding crisis that could worsen by early 2026. The decrease in aid is causing significant hardships, including severe malnutrition among children and increased child recruitment by armed groups.
UNICEF emphasized that, despite efforts to cut costs, no amount of savings can compensate for the drastic decline in funding.
