Petition addressing UN chief urges creating self-sufficiency for the Rohingya

Khani Bangladesh, a platform of over 50 organisations working on food security, has co-signed a petition addressing UN Secretary General António Guterres that highlights the necessity of creating opportunities for self-sufficiency of the Rohingya through proper repatriation.

In a media statement issued today, the platform said the petition emphasises the urgent need for immediate action to address the funding crisis, full restoration of food rations and essential services for the Rohingyas, alongside both short- and long-term funding to meet their food and nutrition needs.

The statement added that more than 110 national, regional, international, and local organisations and individuals, including FIAN Indonesia, FIAN Switzerland, ADAB, ALRD, CSRL, ActionAid Australia, ActionAid Bangladesh, BARCIK, COAST Foundation, Cox's Bazar Civil Society Forum- CCNF, INCIDIN Bangladesh, NGO Forum on ADB, and many others working on human rights, food rights, and related issues, have signed the petition.

Recently, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that without urgent funding, the food ration for the Rohingya population will have to be reduced from $12.50 per person per month to $6.

Khani Bangladesh expressed deep concern regarding the matter, warning that it could exacerbate the already existing humanitarian crisis surrounding the Rohingya issue.

The petition states that the global community must take swift action to address the funding gap, resume essential services, and ensure long-term, sustainable assistance.

This is particularly crucial at a time when refugees are already facing a dire humanitarian situation.

The petition further states that the Rohingya are completely dependent on humanitarian assistance for food, making the continuation of this aid not only necessary but highly critical, especially as malnutrition continues to rise.

"To ensure the full human rights of the Rohingyas, the global community must take responsibility for ensuring their food security until they are able to leave the camps," said Nurul Alam Masud, general secretary of Khani Bangladesh.

Failure to take such steps may lead to tragic incidents such as trafficking, arrests, or deaths while crossing borders due to food insecurity, which will also create instability in the camps and the local communities, he added.

He further emphasised that alongside ensuring proper food assistance, it is now imperative to adopt a long-term strategy to ensure safe and dignified repatriation for the Rohingyas.