The Trump administration revealed on Thursday that it would send $73 million in economic assistance to Rohingya refugees through the UN World Food Programme (WFP), even as it made broader reductions in foreign assistance under its “America First” policy.
“Food and nutrition assistance from @WFP will deliver desperately needed food and nutrition support to over one million individuals,” US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in an X post. She further called on global partners to help share the responsibility of providing life-saving support.
The money arrives as US foreign aid programs are being severely cut back. Two UN agencies have recently cautioned that a budget deficit could result in food ration reductions for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, who fled Myanmar violence for the last eight years. The refugees worry about increasing hunger, decreased access to healthcare, and increased crime from shortages of aid.
Since 2017, Washington has been the biggest contributor to the Rohingya crisis, donating close to $2.4 billion, as per the State Department. Trump’s recent freeze on the funds has already compelled at least five hospitals catering to the Rohingya population to cut back operations.
Trump and billionaire supporter Elon Musk have led the charge to dismantle USAID, the main US foreign aid agency, by consolidating its work into the State Department, eliminating hundreds of jobs, and canceling billions in international aid programs.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio waived in February to permit critical humanitarian assistance and administrative expenses required to deliver aid. However, earlier reported that a Trump administration official in charge of USAID’s restructuring had recommended phasing out all assistance to the Rohingya.
Though the new funding offers interim relief, the long-term US commitment to the crisis continues to hang in the balance.