The U.S. government announced a $73 million aid package to support Rohingya refugees through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The new funds are aimed at providing food and nutrition assistance to over one million Rohingya refugees who have fled violence in Myanmar and are currently residing in Bangladesh.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that this contribution would address the urgent needs of the refugee population. “This food and nutrition support… will provide critically needed assistance for more than one million people,” she said in a post on X.
The U.S. has been the largest donor to Rohingya refugees, contributing nearly $2.4 billion since 2017. However, under President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, foreign aid has faced significant cuts, with efforts to reduce federal spending and reorganize U.S. aid programs. This shift has raised concerns about the potential impact on the ongoing refugee crisis, particularly as food and healthcare services face deficits due to funding shortages.
In response to the cuts, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver in February to ensure that life-saving assistance and necessary administrative costs would still be supported. Despite this, the U.S. foreign aid landscape has dramatically changed, with many services facing significant reductions.
The new funds come as the U.N. warns that aid shortages could worsen hunger, healthcare, and safety for the Rohingya refugees, stressing the need for continued international support.
