Thu Dec 18 10:34:44 UTC 2025: ## Rohingya Children Face Dire Consequences as Aid Cuts Close Schools in Bangladesh Camps

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – Deep cuts to foreign aid, particularly from the United States and other donor nations, have forced the closure of vital schools and youth centers in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, leaving thousands of children vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, according to a recent Associated Press report.

The aid reductions, attributed in part to policy changes during the Trump administration and continued under current funding levels, have triggered a surge in child marriage, forced labor, and even prostitution among the vulnerable Rohingya population.

“I dreamed of being something, of working for the community,” said 17-year-old Hasina, whose school closed after funding dried up. Forced into marriage, she now suffers abuse and isolation. “My life is destroyed.” (AP is withholding her full name to protect her.)

The situation is becoming increasingly perilous for the estimated 600,000 children living in these overcrowded camps. UNICEF reports a alarming spike in child violations, including a fourfold increase in abduction and kidnapping cases to 560 this year. The recruitment of children by armed groups has also surged, affecting 817 individuals.

While the US State Department claims to have provided over $168 million in aid to the Rohingya since 2017, citing improved efficiency and shared donor responsibility, the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture. Funding to the Bangladesh camps has been slashed by nearly half compared to last year, and the overall Rohingya emergency response is only 50 percent funded for 2025.

Although UNICEF has managed to reopen some learning centers by reallocating existing funds, many other schools run by aid organizations remain shuttered, leaving countless children without access to education and protection. The closures have stripped away a crucial lifeline, pushing vulnerable children into dangerous situations.

The future remains uncertain for the Rohingya children, trapped between the horrors of the past in Myanmar and the bleak realities of their present in the refugee camps. The international community is urged to address the funding gap and prioritize the safety and well-being of these vulnerable children, ensuring they have access to education and a chance at a better future.

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