Attachments
In Numbers
1,114 mt food distributed
US$13.8 million distributed in cash-based transfers
US$88.14 million net funding requirements under the country strategic plan (February – July 2025)
1.2 million people assisted*
Operational Updates
Rohingya refugee response
- WFP faces a critical funding shortfall for emergency response due to reduced contributions. Without urgent funding, monthly rations may be reduced from US$12.50 per person in Cox’s Bazar and US$15 on Bhasan Char to just US$6 for all refugees in April. WFP urgently seeks US$81 million to sustain full assistance through December 2025, including US$15 million for April 2025. WFP has begun sensitizing the Rohingya community about the possible ration cuts.
- WFP provided food assistance to over 1 million Rohingya refugees, including approximately 56,000 new arrivals fleeing the escalating conflict in neighbouring Myanmar into Cox’s Bazar.
- WFP continued to provide nutrition services to women and children, reaching over 91,000 with malnutrition prevention and more than 15,000 with treatment. However, malnutrition remains a critical concern, with a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 15 percent among children aged 6–59 months in Cox’s Bazar. The rate is even higher for children aged 6–23 months at 21 percent.
- WFP provided fortified biscuits to over 220,000 Rohingya children in 3,659 learning centers across the camps in Cox’s Bazar and 11,000 students in 31 learning centres on Bhasan Char. In host communities (Ukhiya, Kutubdia, and Teknaf), 51,000 students across 212 government primary schools also received assistance.
Emergency responses to eastern floods
- WFP provided food-for-assets assistance, transferring over US$48,000 to more than 2,000 flood-affected people in Feni, Noakhali, and Laxmipur. More than 9,100 people participated in training including entrepreneurship and received follow-up support. Over half participants completed the training in February.
Rice Fortification
- WFP led the formation and first meeting of the National Fortification Alliance, bringing together stakeholders from the development sector, academia, and the fortification industry to enhance coordination and collaboration in food fortification efforts.
- To improve the beneficiary enrollment process for the 2025-26 cycle, the Government is implementing improvements such as enhanced verification methods. As a result, the distribution of fortified rice under the Vulnerable Women Benefit programme has been slightly delayed, moving from February to March.
- WFP completed an awareness campaign on fortified rice in Cox’s Bazar’s host community and the Dhaka retail market, reaching over 10,000 people. Through Radio Naf, WFP continued to enhance the acceptability of fortified rice among Rohingya refugees in the camps through live phone-in sessions, radio dramas, and listener groups.