UN Warns Rohingya Aid Cuts Could Be Catastrophic

A senior UN official has issued a stark warning about a dramatic drop in international aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Dominic Hyde, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, stated that funding for the crisis has fallen by 50% this year. He called for urgent new solutions so refugees can better support themselves. "With less aid, we must find ways for refugees to be more self-reliant," Hyde said during a visit to the camps in Cox's Bazar. He warned that cuts could lead to a "devastating spiral" in living conditions. The camps house over one million Rohingya. Most fled a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. Bangladesh's interim government agrees a crisis is looming. Its head, H.T. Imam, also known as Yunus, stressed that voluntary repatriation to Myanmar is the only long-term solution. "Repatriation is the only viable option," Yunus said. He urged the international community to focus on making returns to Myanmar safe and sustainable. Currently, conditions in Myanmar are not deemed safe for return by the UN. This leaves both aid and repatriation efforts at a critical point.