Food assistance slashed for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees struggling to survive in Bangladesh’s overcrowded camps will see their food assistance slashed. The change takes effect on Wednesday and is raising alarm throughout the increasingly desperate community. The 1.2 million Rohingya trapped in the camps currently receive $12 a month per person. The persecuted minority from Myanmar has long warned that amount is not enough. Under the World Food Program’s new tiered system, the amount each person receives will vary based on the severity of their family’s needs, with around 17% of the population getting as little as $7 per month. The WFP says that plan will ensure that all recipients will receive 2,100 calories a day, the recommended minimum standard for emergency food aid.