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UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi has warned that the plight of the Rohingyas will not end without decisive action inside Myanmar, emphasising that the solution to the long-standing crisis lies within the country.
“The most important thing is not to forget that this crisis originates in Myanmar. And that, Madam President, is where the solution lies,” Grandi said while addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Conference on Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar at the UN Headquarters on Tuesday, BSS reports.
He recalled that eight years ago, widespread violence by Myanmar’s military forced 750,000 Rohingyas to flee to Bangladesh, while many others remained displaced in Rakhine State.
Despite changes on the ground, including the Arakan Army now controlling much of the state, Grandi said their situation “has not improved.”
“The Rohingyas live under constant threat of arbitrary arrest and detention, with limited access to healthcare and education. They cannot move freely and are subjected to forced labour and recruitment. Their lives are defined every day by fear and discrimination,” he added.
Grandi expressed deep gratitude to Bangladesh, which currently hosts nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees and has received an additional 150,000 since renewed fighting in 2024.
“Despite enormous challenges, Bangladesh continues to host them, setting an example for the world, showing that compassion is still possible at a time when indifference and inaction are, sadly, becoming the norm. Giving asylum to refugees saves lives,” he said.
The UNHCR chief also praised international financial institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank for providing over $1.25 billion in support but stressed that humanitarian aid in Bangladesh “remains chronically underfunded.”
Without additional resources, he warned, essential aid may be cut, resulting in child malnutrition and more refugees risking dangerous sea journeys.
“Unless further resources are forthcoming, despite the needs, we will be forced to make more cuts, while striving to minimize the risk of losing lives — children dying of malnutrition, or people dying at sea as more refugees attempt dangerous journeys,” Grandi said.
He called on the global community to step up support through funding, resettlement opportunities, education, and labour mobility pathways.
However, Grandi emphasised that humanitarian aid alone cannot resolve the crisis. “We cannot keep going down the path of inertia and expect a resolution while an entire population continues to suffer,” he said.
He noted that the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission remain “as relevant as ever” and should guide efforts for the voluntary, safe, and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their homes, with full involvement of the refugees themselves.
Grandi urged countries with influence to intensify engagement with both Myanmar’s de facto authorities and the Arakan Army to secure humanitarian access, rebuild trust, and pursue durable solutions for forcibly displaced people.
Drawing lessons from other conflicts, he said, “It is possible, through sustained political engagement and innovative approaches, to alter the trajectory of conflicts that seem intractable.”
He concluded with a call for principled and pragmatic action: “We have no other choice if we want to chart a new course for the people of Myanmar — one that is principled, pragmatic, and forward-looking — and bring a lasting solution to the plight of the Rohingya people.”
“UNHCR stands ready to support. We will continue working with Member States, regional bodies, civil society, and refugee-led organizations to raise resources and advance protection, resilience, and solutions for all displaced people within and from Myanmar,” he said.