Bangladesh

Bangladesh has experienced sustained economic growth in recent years – one of the fastest in Asia prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, 23.6 million people face food insecurity. 

The country has been dealing with an influx of over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar since 2017 - one of the world’s largest and most protracted humanitarian emergencies.

Most of the refugees reside in overcrowded, disaster-prone camps in Cox’s Bazar, with no legal status, no work permits and complete dependence on humanitarian aid.

The World Food Programme (WFP)  urgently requires US$167 million to maintain full food rations and nutrition services for the Rohingya population until August 2026.

Without this, we will be forced to reduce rations in December 2025, leaving the entire Rohingya community without their primary source of sustenance.

Lessons from previous ration cuts show that when food entitlements are reduced, other aspects of life quickly deteriorate, with increased child marriage, violence, trafficking, host community tensions and dangerous onward movement.

Bangladesh’s low elevation and vast watercourses leave it highly vulnerable to climate shocks. In May 2024, Cyclone Remal caused the most devastating destruction of recent years. Nearly 5 million people across 19 districts in the southern Khulna and Barishal divisions were affected.

Over the past 50 years, WFP has supported more than 155 million people through both emergency response and longer-term resilience building..

While continuing to provide humanitarian assistance, WFP has shifted towards a more advisory role, assisting the Government in efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 on ending hunger.