Ukraine, Sweden deliver food aid to Rohingya

DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Ukraine and Sweden have delivered 3,000 metric tons of sunflower oil to Bangladesh to support food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, arriving as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns that deepening funding shortages could trigger severe ration cuts next year.

The shipment, provided through the Grain from Ukraine initiative and financed with $7 million from Sweden, forms part of wider efforts to stabilize food supplies threatened by the war in Ukraine and global donor fatigue. 

The oil will be distributed through WFP’s e-voucher system, which provides refugees $12 per person each month to buy staples and fresh produce from local markets.

Bangladeshi officials say the delivery arrives at a turning point for a response now in its ninth year, with support rapidly declining. 

Md Mostafizur Rahman, Bangladesh’s Secretary for Disaster Management and Relief, said the contribution would “significantly strengthen food assistance for the Rohingya population,” warning that the operation now relies heavily on sustained international solidarity.

Diplomats involved in the initiative say the effort demonstrates that humanitarian cooperation remains possible even amid global conflicts. 

Swedish ambassador Nicolas Weeks said the shipment should act as a reminder that “the world must not look away from one of the most protracted refugee crises of our time,” urging donors to prevent further deterioration.

WFP requires $172 million to maintain food and nutrition programs through 2026. Without new commitments, agencies say major ration cuts will begin in April 2026, raising risks of rising malnutrition, insecurity and instability inside the overcrowded camps that shelter nearly 1.2 million Rohingya.

Humanitarian partners warn that the crisis is slipping from global attention, and that the consequences could be severe if support continues to decline.