DHAKA - After a week-long mission in Bangladesh, visiting projects of the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  (FAO), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Ambassador Jeffrey Prescott, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, called on the international community to continue its support to the Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi host communities for a crisis that shows no signs of abating.

Some of the challenges the Ambassador witnessed firsthand include the poor living conditions in the camps and continued restrictions on movement and job opportunities. The camps are highly susceptible to hazards such as fires and climate shocks such as floods and cyclones, which deepen the population’s vulnerability each time they strike. In addition, in 2023, humanitarian assistance was scaled back for the first time due to a lack of funding, resulting in cuts in food rations.

The Ambassador invited a team of international and local journalists to join the trip. Together, they witnessed the work of the three agencies on the ground, including WFP’s food assistance to the nearly one million Rohingya people. In an upcycling centre in the camps, they observed how vulnerable Rohingya men and women are trained to repurpose wrappings of nutrition products into useful products, including seedling bags for vegetable gardening.

In the Cox’s Bazar community, the delegation observed how WFP and FAO are collaborating to enhance the livelihoods of local communities by sourcing fresh produce for WFP’s food distribution in the camps. At a primary school, they learned about the comprehensive support provided by both agencies in school feeding, health, literacy, and gardening. The school feeding programme in Bangladesh has been generously funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program for nearly two decades.

They also visited a crab hatchery financed by IFAD as part of its long-lasting solutions to develop climate-resilient, local food production and value chains for poor, rural, small-scale farmers.

At the Rohingya Culture and Memory Centre, Rohingya artists and volunteers curated a poignant exhibition for the delegation, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and identity of the Rohingya people.

“It is humbling to witness the unimaginable scale of this crisis and the concerted efforts by the Government and humanitarian partners in response. Many of the programmes we visited are designed not just to alleviate immediate hardships but also to extend impact beyond the camps, playing a critical role in building the resilience of host communities. The United States is fully committed to supporting our partners on the ground, and we call on others to also step up and join us," Ambassador Prescott said.

The United States is the single largest donor to the ongoing refugee crisis in Bangladesh, committing US$2.4 billion since August 2017, of which nearly US$2 billion has been provided for Rohingyas and host communities.

"We are delighted that Ambassador Prescott had the chance to meet the Bangladeshi rural women and men and hear from them how our investment and support have helped them build better lives and livelihoods,” said Arnoud Hameleers, IFAD Country Director.

“We showed the Ambassador and the delegation some of our major initiatives in Cox’s Bazar, particularly in the areas of homestead gardening, aggregation centres, and tree plantation sites. We eagerly anticipate continued collaboration with USAID and our sister UN agencies to further expand our interventions in food and agriculture in Bangladesh,” said Dr Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative.

“While the situation remains precarious in the camps, we are fortunate to have the steadfast support of the United States and the rest of the international community. Starting in June, we will increase the ration again partially, from US$10 to US$11. We thank Ambassador Prescott for choosing Bangladesh for his first field mission and the media for shedding light on the urgent needs and resilience of the Rohingya and their host communities,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director.

The U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome works with the Rome-based international food and agriculture organizations to fight global hunger and promote sustainable development in an efficient and effective manner. With staff representing the U.S. Departments of State, Agriculture, and the Agency for International Development, the U.S. Mission specifically works to advance UN efforts in the areas of emergency food assistance and resilience building, agricultural development, and food safety.  

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to eliminate hunger. Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.  With 195 members, FAO works in more than 130 countries around the world.

IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, it has provided more than US$24 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries.

Photo: USUN/Cristiano Minichiello

For more information, please contact:

Naomi Mattos, US Mission/Rome

Mob. +39 335 5491567; [email protected]

Berna Cetin, International Communications Officer, FAO Bangladesh

Mob.: +88 017 9952 7112 Email: [email protected]

Kun Li, Head of Partnerships, Communications and Reporting, WFP Bangladesh

Mob: +88 013 2284 6137 Email: [email protected]

Farhana Urmee, Communication and Knowledge Management Adviser, IFAD Country Office in Bangladesh

Mob.: +8801308311347 Email: [email protected]