Rohingya Children Suffer as U.S. Aid Cuts Impact Refugee Camps

Deep cuts to U.S. foreign aid have severely impacted the lives of Rohingya children in refugee camps in Bangladesh. According to the Associated Press, the closure of thousands of schools and youth centers, resulting from these cuts, has led to a rise in child abuse, including forced marriages, child labor, and trafficking.

UNICEF reported verified cases of child marriage increased by 21% and child labor cases by 17% within the year. The U.S. slashed its funding for the Rohingya response nearly in half compared to last year, with the overall emergency response only 50% funded for 2025.

Children aged as young as 10 are now being forced into labor, while girls as young as 12 face prostitution. Hasina, a 17-year-old, reflects on her lost dreams of becoming a teacher after being married off when her school closed.

Mohammed, a 13-year-old, went missing for nine days before calling his father from a trafficker's boat, expressing his despair over the school closure. Aid agencies warn that without adequate funding, the situation will worsen, with healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation services already reduced.

The Rohingya continue to rely heavily on humanitarian aid, but with the U.N. World Food Program unable to ensure food rations beyond March, families face a dire future. According to reports, 560 children were abducted or kidnapped between January and November this year, a fourfold increase from the previous year, highlighting the urgent need for international support and action.