Impact of cash assistance on food insecurity: a snapshot from Rohingya camps during COVID-19

Abstract

Collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Program (WFP), and NGOs, the Bangladesh Government implemented cash assistance programs for Rohingya refugee households facing exacerbated food insecurity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the impact of a cash assistance program on alleviating the food insecurity experienced by Rohingya migrants during the pandemic. Additionally, this study explores potential variations of the impact of cash assistance with reference to vulnerability levels based on gender and income inequality. These findings indicate a significant reduction in food insecurity among Rohingya migrants who received cash assistance. However, further analysis reveals that cash assistance is not effective in ensuring the food security of comparatively more vulnerable households headed by women and households with no earning members. This policy implication underscores the need to restructure, redesign, and reconsider the features of cash assistance programs to enhance the welfare of refugee households across all levels of vulnerability. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.