Bangladesh Urges UN Aid for 1.2 Million Rohingya Refugees
Bangladesh has urged continued international aid for more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees and called for safe, voluntary and dignified return to Myanmar.
Bangladesh has urged the international community to maintain humanitarian assistance for more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in the country, while stressing that their safe and voluntary return to Myanmar remains the long-term solution to the crisis.
Addressing the 81st UN General Assembly session, Bangladesh’s Tarique Rahman said hosting the displaced population for years has placed significant pressure on the country’s resources, environment, security and local communities. He called for continued international support until conditions allow the Rohingya to return safely and with dignity.
Most Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh live in camps around Cox’s Bazar. UNHCR estimates that around 1.2 million Rohingya remain in Bangladesh, with the majority having fled Myanmar following the large-scale violence and displacement of 2017. The UN refugee agency has also warned that humanitarian funding shortages are increasing pressure on already vulnerable communities.
Bangladesh has repeatedly maintained that repatriation must be voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable. The UN has similarly stressed that conditions in Myanmar remain a major obstacle to sustainable returns and has called for international efforts to address the roots of the crisis.
The appeal comes as humanitarian needs continue to grow while funding remains limited. UNHCR has warned that reduced assistance could leave refugees increasingly vulnerable, making sustained international support crucial.
For more than nine years, the Rohingya crisis has remained unresolved—because apparently even a crisis this large can somehow stay stuck in the world’s “pending” folder.
