UK provides fresh funding for WFP Rohingya food assistance

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a fresh contribution of £1.1 million (USD 1.4 million) from the United Kingdom to support its lifesaving food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

The funding, received in December 2025, follows earlier UK contributions totalling £8.7 million (USD 11.6 million) during the year for WFP’s Rohingya response, reaffirming Britain’s continued support for one of the world’s largest refugee operations.

British Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Development Director at the British High Commission in Dhaka, James Goldman, said the UK was proud to continue backing WFP’s critical work to ensure Rohingya families have access to nutritious food and essential services. He noted that the support would also benefit Bangladesh’s economy through the local sourcing of goods from suppliers within host communities.

Through an e-voucher system, WFP currently provides food assistance to nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, allowing families to purchase staple and fresh food items with an entitlement of USD 12 per person per month. The agency also delivers nutrition support for children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women, school meals for around 260,000 Rohingya children aged between three and 14, and livelihood activities to strengthen resilience among both refugees and host communities.

WFP’s acting Country Director in Bangladesh, Simone Parchment, expressed gratitude for the UK’s continued solidarity, saying the support was crucial at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing while global funding is declining.

The Rohingya crisis is now in its ninth year and faces growing challenges due to a sharp drop in funding. WFP has warned that it is facing a funding gap of USD 147 million for its food and nutrition programmes in 2026, raising concerns that assistance could be disrupted as early as April without additional contributions.