Qatar Charity has distributed food aid as part of its humanitarian initiative to support host communities affected by the Rohingya refugee crisis in the Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh.

The aid reached 12,090 individuals across nine distribution points located near the Rohingya camps, said a press release issued by QC’s Dhaka office on Monday.

It said the host communities, which have long extended support to the displaced Rohingya people, are themselves grappling with increasing challenges. These include environmental degradation, deforestation, landslides, water scarcity, and growing competition for resources such as land, employment, healthcare, and education. The pressure has not only strained local infrastructure but also given rise to social tensions between the refugees and the local population.

Recognising these growing challenges, Qatar Charity's food aid initiative was welcomed as a much-needed support to help alleviate the burdens on the host population, the press release said.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude for providing essential food items, and they thanked the kind people of the State of Qatar.

“We’ve been struggling to manage food for our family as prices have gone up and work is scarce. This food aid will help us feed our children for several days,” said Sukh Bilash, a mother of three from the Teknaf area.

Nur Mohammad Anowar, a representative of the local government in the Teknaf area, said, “Support for host communities is essential to maintaining harmony and sustainability in this region. We appreciate Qatar Charity for stepping in and addressing the needs of our people.”

Qatar Charity continues its humanitarian support to both Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh through a variety of projects.

It has made significant strides in providing essential support to Rohingya refugees living in the camps of Cox’s Bazar and Bhasanchar, benefiting over 234,313 individuals in the past year.