The United Nations World Food Programme in Bangladesh has received an additional EUR 2 million from the European Union to sustain critical food and nutrition assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities. The funding, provided through the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, brings the EU’s total contribution to WFP in Bangladesh in 2025 to EUR 15.3 million.
European Union officials highlighted the continued commitment to supporting people affected by crisis despite growing humanitarian pressures globally. The EU emphasized its dedication to providing neutral, impartial, and needs-based assistance to Rohingya refugees and surrounding communities, working in close partnership with WFP to ensure life-saving support reaches those most in need.
WFP currently supports nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, including approximately 140,000 people who arrived between 2024 and 2025. Through its e-voucher system, families receive monthly assistance of USD 12 per person, enabling them to purchase essential staple and fresh food items while maintaining choice and dignity.
In addition to food assistance, WFP delivers targeted nutrition programmes to prevent and treat malnutrition among children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. The organization also provides school meals to around 260,000 Rohingya children aged 4 to 14 and implements resilience-building activities that benefit both refugee and host communities.
WFP expressed appreciation for the European Union’s timely support, noting that continued funding is essential as humanitarian needs continue to grow. The organization warned that in 2026 it faces a funding shortfall of USD 147 million for its food and nutrition programmes in Bangladesh, which could disrupt assistance as early as April without additional contributions.
Now entering its ninth year, the Rohingya crisis is marked by worsening funding constraints and increasing vulnerability among affected populations. The new EU contribution is expected to help WFP sustain essential services, protect food security, and support the dignity and wellbeing of Rohingya refugees and host communities amid an increasingly challenging humanitarian landscape.
