Rohingya refugees in crammed Bangladeshi camps say they are worried about a U.S. decision to cut food rations by half beginning next month, while a refugee official says the reduction will impact the

Rohingya refugees in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh are worried about hunger and malnutrition after the UN warned of cuts to food rations due to a funding shortage.

Aid officials and Rohingya refugees say vital programmes are already closing down, and they expect worse to come on both sides of the border.

The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) called on Friday for urgent funding for its Bangladesh operations, warning that a funding deficit would curb rations for the Rohingya in the world's largest refugee settlement.

The United Nations says severe funding shortages have forced the World Food Programme to halve rations for Rohingya in Bangladesh. After the U.S. froze aid spending, rations for the persecuted Muslim minority will be reduced from US$12.