The United Nations’ World Food Programme is closing its southern African bureau that’s been leading a response to the worst drought in the region in four decades as it expects funding from donors such as the US to slump by two fifths.

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 nutrition of more than 1 million refugees and create social and mental pressure.

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.