US aid cuts fuel Rohingya camp chaos, militants gain ground

The security situation in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh is worsening as U.S. funding cuts create space for militant groups, a new report warns.

A 78-page document by human rights group Fortify Rights reveals Rohingya militant groups killed at least 65 people in 2024 alone, following a sharp rise in violence over recent years.

The report suggests these crimes could constitute war crimes due to their direct link to the ongoing conflict in Burma.

It urges the Bangladesh government and international bodies to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, who fled Myanmar’s military crackdown in 2017.

The UN warns they remain entirely dependent on foreign aid.

However, a recent U.S. policy shift under the Trump administration cutting USAID operations has placed humanitarian support in jeopardy.

The World Food Program, which heavily relies on U.S. funds, says without urgent financial assistance, food rations for more than a million refugees will be slashed in half starting April 1.