Says UN special rapporteur, urges int’l community to reverse its move

STAR REPORT

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar yesterday made an urgent appeal to member states to reverse “the shameful, catastrophic cuts” to food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

The cuts were implemented from Wednesday.

According to a UNB report, Tom Andrews said, “These rations cuts are a stain on the conscience of the international community.”

Citing a lack of funds, the World Food Programme cut rations by 17 percent, bringing the number of calories per person to below the accepted minimum standard of 2,100 per day.

“I have spoken with desperate families in the camps who have already had to cut back on essential food items due to a spike in prices. Reversing these cuts in food aid is literally a matter of life and death for Rohingya families.”