Severe reductions in American foreign assistance, initiated by the administration of former President Donald Trump, have had a catastrophic impact on vulnerable Rohingya children living in sprawling refugee camps in Bangladesh. The funding cuts, combined with decreased support from other donor nations, have triggered the closure of thousands of schools and youth centres, dismantling critical child protection networks.
Closures and the Collapse of Protection
The dramatic scaling back of international support has directly led to the shuttering of essential services within the camps. These institutions were not merely places of learning but vital safe havens for children who have fled persecution. With these centres now closed, child protection programmes have been severely weakened, leaving minors exposed to extreme risks and exploitation with few safeguards remaining.
Dire Consequences for the Youngest Refugees
The human cost of these policy decisions is stark and distressing. Reports from the camps indicate that without the safety net previously provided, many families are resorting to desperate measures. Girls are being forced into early marriage, while children as young as ten are pushed into hard labour to support their families. In the most harrowing cases, some girls as young as twelve have been compelled into prostitution.
These outcomes represent a severe regression in the welfare of a population that had already endured immense trauma. The situation underscores how reductions in humanitarian funding translate directly into increased suffering on the ground.
The U.S. Stance and International Burden-Sharing
In response to criticism, the U.S. State Department has defended its record, stating it has provided more than $168 million in aid to the Rohingya since President Trump took office. Officials cited a drive to improve the efficiency of aid delivery and a long-standing goal of encouraging other nations to share more of the financial burden for global crises.
However, aid agencies on the ground contend that the abrupt cuts have overwhelmed the remaining support systems. The closures have created a vacuum that existing programmes, strained by reduced budgets from multiple donors, are unable to fill. The crisis highlights the fragile ecosystem of international aid and the immediate human consequences when that support is withdrawn.
The visual evidence, curated by AP photo editors, provides a powerful and unsettling testament to the deteriorating conditions faced by Rohingya children in the wake of these aid reductions.
