Bangladesh– August 26, 2025

A Call for Action as Rohingya Repatriation becomes a Priority

Eight years after the mass exodus from Myanmar, the leader of Bangladesh is urgently calling on the international community to facilitate the “voluntary return” of Rohingya refugees. The plea comes as the country grapples with a deepening humanitarian crisis fueled by a severe global funding crunch and a new wave of arrivals.

Speaking at a conference in Cox’s Bazar, where Bangladesh hosts the world’s largest refugee camp, Interim Leader Muhammad Yunus presented a seven-point plan aimed at securing the “safe, dignified, voluntary, and sustainable return” of the persecuted minority to their homeland in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Yunus was unequivocal in his address, warning that his country could no longer provide additional domestic resources to support the more than 1.5 million Rohingya refugees it currently shelters.

Headlines of the Report

 * Urgent Call for Repatriation: The Bangladeshi leader has issued a direct appeal for a “practical roadmap” to be created for the voluntary return of Rohingya refugees, citing his nation’s inability to bear the burden alone.

 * Humanitarian Funding Crisis: Global aid funding for the Rohingya response has been critically reduced, leading to drastic cuts in essential services like food, healthcare, and education for the refugees.

 * New Influx of Refugees: The situation has been exacerbated by a new influx of Rohingya refugees fleeing escalating violence and conflict in Myanmar, with over 150,000 new arrivals since early 2024.

 * Calls for Justice: Yunus and Rohingya leaders emphasized that accountability and justice for the 2017 genocide are crucial for ensuring a safe return, with the issue being a key demand during protests in the camps.

 * Return Prospects Bleak: Despite the appeals, the prospects for repatriation remain grim, as ongoing conflict and persecution inside Myanmar, as well as the denial of citizenship and rights, make a safe return impossible for many refugees.

The humanitarian situation in the camps has become increasingly dire. Severe funding shortfalls have already led to a halving of monthly food rations from the World Food Programme, leaving many refugees with barely enough to survive. This has contributed to rising malnutrition, particularly among children, and has forced some to resort to desperate measures to make a living. The funding gap is a result of competing global crises and a general decline in international attention to the long-standing Rohingya crisis.

At the same time, the situation inside Myanmar remains volatile. Rohingya refugees and international organizations assert that conditions are not conducive for a safe return. The denial of citizenship and fundamental rights, coupled with ongoing violence and conflict, means that a return to their homeland would be a return to danger for the refugees. Many Rohingya, despite a deep desire to go home, have stated they will not return without guarantees of their rights and safety.

The delisting of Chinese property giant Evergrande and the ongoing trade tensions between the US and the EU continue to create uncertainty, which directly impacts the flow of aid from major donors. This highlights the interconnected nature of the global economy and the far-reaching impact of these events on vulnerable populations. With the crisis entering its eighth year with no repatriation in sight, the international community faces the difficult task of finding a long-term solution that addresses both the immediate humanitarian needs and the root causes of the conflict.