(MENAFN) Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, held discussions in Rome on Tuesday with World Food Program (WFP) Acting Executive Director Carl Skau, where they reiterated their shared objective of boosting financial aid for Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh.

According to a statement from Yunus’ office, Skau visited the Chief Adviser at a hotel in the Italian capital to discuss the matter.

During their conversation, Skau emphasized that the Rohingya crisis remains "one of the UN agency's top agenda items," citing a pressing need for financial resources to support the displaced population.

He further reassured Yunus of the agency’s dedication to delivering food assistance to approximately 1.3 million Rohingya refugees staying in the Cox’s Bazar region of southeastern Bangladesh.

These individuals, predominantly victims of a violent military campaign in Myanmar in 2017, continue to rely heavily on humanitarian support.

Both officials explored opportunities to access funds from alternative contributors, including affluent countries and global financial organizations.

This approach aims to expand the resource base needed to sustain ongoing relief operations.

Despite the funding challenges, Skau acknowledged that, thanks to renewed humanitarian pledges—including those from the United States and the United Kingdom—the WFP would maintain its monthly food allocation of "$12" per person for every Rohingya refugee.

Previously, the UN food agency had been forced to slash food provisions by 50% due to a critical funding gap.

This shortfall stemmed in part from the US administration’s decision to reduce support to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a principal contributor to the refugee assistance efforts.

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