Orlando Bloom Warns of “Lost Generation” as Funding Cuts Threaten Rohingya Children’s Future in Bangladesh.
Dhaka/New York:
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom has issued a stark warning over the future of Rohingya refugee children following his visit to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — home to the world’s largest refugee settlement — where funding cuts are threatening education, health, and protection services for nearly half a million children.
During a four-day visit, Bloom met with children, families, and aid workers to witness firsthand the devastating impact of declining international support. His visit comes amid severe reductions in official development assistance (ODA), which have already forced UNICEF to scale back essential services in the overcrowded camps.
“The children in these camps are 100 per cent dependent on aid, but that aid is sadly shrinking,” said Bloom. “I met 14-year-old Aziz who dreams of becoming an engineer so he can build a drone to show the world how much help Rohingya children need. These children need an education in order to have a future.”
Schools at Risk of Closure
Earlier this year, UNICEF was forced to temporarily close most learning centres in the Rohingya camps due to funding shortages, affecting nearly 150,000 children. While schools have recently reopened after emergency fundraising efforts, UNICEF warns that a looming shortfall in early 2026 could once again shut down all education programmes — potentially leaving over 300,000 children without access to learning.
Bloom met 15-year-old Husna, a dedicated student who has not missed a class in three years. She told him about her dream of becoming a doctor to help other girls in her community.
“Keeping schools open is the only chance for girls in the camps to have a future and avoid falling into child marriage — a threat for the majority of girls here,” Bloom emphasized.
Rising Health and Protection Concerns
UNICEF has also ramped up efforts to provide safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, reaching more than half the camp population. However, worsening conditions have led to a 24 per cent increase in skin diseases such as scabies compared to last year, affecting an estimated half a million people.
The decline in aid has also intensified protection risks. In October alone, more than 400 Rohingya children were reported as victims of serious human rights violations — including abduction and recruitment by armed groups — marking a threefold increase from the same period in 2024.
“On top of all the other challenges, insufficient protection services are putting these children at real risk of abuse and neglect,” said Bloom. “I spoke with two children who escaped after being abducted and held by armed groups. Their stories are absolutely heartbreaking.”
Malnutrition on the Rise
Bloom’s visit also highlighted worsening malnutrition among children. UNICEF data show an 11 per cent rise in severe acute malnutrition cases among children under five between January and September 2025 compared to the same period last year.
UNICEF continues to support infant and young child feeding programmes and treatment for malnutrition, but warns that without sustained funding, vital services for mothers and children could collapse beyond 2025.
“A Lost Generation in the Making”
UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, cautioned that the funding crisis risks creating a “lost generation” of Rohingya children who will suffer lifelong consequences if the situation does not improve.
“If current trends continue, over half a million children risk facing developmental delays, loss of childhood, or death,” Flowers said. “The ripple effects of this crisis will touch every aspect of their lives — less food, fewer health services, and no protection from violence.”
Global Appeal for Support
UNICEF estimates that its global income could fall by 20 per cent over the next four years as governments worldwide scale back foreign assistance.
Bloom called on the international community to urgently step up support for Rohingya children and other vulnerable populations dependent on humanitarian aid.
“The situation unfolding in the Rohingya camps is a child survival crisis,” Bloom said. “We urge the world not to forget these children. They don’t deserve to be forgotten — no child does.”
Background:
Since 2017, nearly one million Rohingya refugees have fled persecution in Myanmar, settling in makeshift camps in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF has been at the forefront of providing life-saving services, including education, nutrition, and protection, but years of protracted crisis and dwindling international funding have left the agency struggling to meet basic needs.
