SS Report
Cox’s Bazar, 27 August 2025:
At a high-level Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the Rohingya Situation in Bangladesh, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou, called for urgent international support and meaningful political progress to resolve the eight-year-long Rohingya crisis.
Over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees now reside in Bangladesh, most having fled horrific violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in 2017. Mazou praised Bangladesh’s exceptional hospitality, saying, “In a world where asylum is increasingly questioned, Bangladesh’s response remains a global example.”
He acknowledged the contributions of the international community but warned that funding is running short, with only 60% of the 2025 Joint Response Plan currently financed. Food aid is secured until December, but essential services like LPG, education, and healthcare are already under threat.
Mazou stressed that humanitarian aid alone cannot resolve the crisis. “Voluntary return in safety and dignity remains the most desirable solution,” he said, placing responsibility on Myanmar to create conditions for return. The UN, regional bodies, and neighboring states must intensify efforts to restore peace in Myanmar, especially Rakhine, where 150,000 more Rohingya fled violence in the past 18 months.
With 3.5 million internally displaced people in Myanmar, the crisis risks expanding into a wider regional emergency. Mazou urged stakeholders to ensure Rohingya refugees can contribute to rebuilding their country, saying, “Long-term aid must be matched by development and political solutions.”
The dialogue also prepares for a High-Level Conference on 30 September 2025 at the UN General Assembly in New York, aimed at reaffirming commitment to justice, dignity, and durable solutions for the Rohingya people.
Source: UNHCR Communication Team
