United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has vowed to do everything possible to prevent further hardship for Rohingya refugees as drastic aid cuts threatened food supplies and other critical relief efforts.

Guterres made the pledge during his visit to the Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh.

The UN chief is visiting Bangladesh to review the situation of more than one million Rohingya refugees.

During the four-day-tour, Guterres will join tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in an Iftar, the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday.

The Rohingya refugees are now living in camps in Bangladeshi Cox’s Bazar district, some 400 km southeast of capital Dhaka

Guterres described Cox’s Bazar as “ground zero” for the impact of these cuts, warning of a looming humanitarian disaster if immediate action is not taken.

Guterres emphasised that his visit, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, was a mission of solidarity with the Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi people who generously host them.

He praised the support offered by Bangladesh and local communities, who shared their land, forests, water and resources with the refugees, calling it nothing short of “enormous.”

Bangladesh is hosting over one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

Guterres is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Sunday morning to wrap up his second visit to Bangladesh.