The U.N. humanitarian chief says there has been "no progress" in dealing with the reasons why more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh from western Myanmar's Rakhine state.

Just returned from a visit to Bangladesh, Mark Lowcock said Myanmar has failed "to put in place confidence-building measures that would persuade people it's safe to go back."

He told several reporters Monday that he is also "extremely worried" the U.N. appeal for $962 million to provide for the Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh this year is only 17% funded.

He says: "I think the world may be losing interest. Last year, we got 70% what we asked for. We're running way behind."

Lowcock warns that "if we don't get financed, the consequences will be serious."