UN appeals for Rohingya aid amid fund crunch

The United Nations refugee agency urges the international community to maintain support for over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh as funds for their upkeep dry up.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warns that funding shortages and growing global humanitarian pressures are threatening essential services for one of the world's largest displaced populations.
It reminds that the world is approaching the ninth anniversary of the mass displacement of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and stresses that the crisis must not be overlooked amid competing international emergencies.
"This year, the world will mark nine years since the large-scale forced displacement of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Bangladesh," the UN agency says in its international appeal for aid.
"With our partners, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling on the international community not to forget the 1.2 million refugees in Bangladesh, most of them in camps in Cox's Bazar."
The agency notes that Bangladesh has provided refuge to successive waves of Rohingya fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State since the late 1970s. The largest influx occurred in August 2017, when around 750,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh following a military crackdown in Myanmar.
According to UNHCR, Bangladesh's continued hospitality and international support have played a critical role in ensuring protection and meeting the basic needs of displaced Rohingyas over the years.
The appeal comes at a time when humanitarian agencies are facing increasing financial constraints due to multiple crises around the world.
UNHCR says growing global instability and mounting humanitarian demands have forced aid agencies to make difficult decisions regarding resource allocation, putting essential services for vulnerable populations at risk.
Last month, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners, working in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh, launched a joint appeal seeking $710.5 million to address the most urgent needs of the refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
Despite rising needs, the agency notes, the aid appeal is 26-percent lower than last year's funding request, reflecting what it described as a highly prioritised response strategy.
"Since 2017, humanitarian funding for the Rohingya refugee response has allowed Bangladesh to sustain lifesaving assistance and make major progress in refugee education, health and protection," the statement says.
"However, significant humanitarian needs persist and, without continued international solidarity, the plight of Rohingya families will deteriorate."
The agency warns that many Rohingya families remain heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance amid limited opportunities for employment and self-reliance. Reduced aid and shrinking development support are having a growing impact on refugee households, particularly among women, children, elderly people and persons with disabilities.
The UNHCR also highlights the challenges posed by approximately 150,000 new arrivals who have fled renewed violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State since early 2024.
It notes with concern that prospects for the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees are becoming increasingly uncertain as conflict, persecution and insecurity continue in Myanmar.
"As targeted violence, persecution and conflict inside Myanmar's Rakhine State continue, hopes for a return to Myanmar are fading," the UN agency says.
The lack of durable solutions has pushed some refugees to undertake dangerous maritime journeys in search of safety and opportunities elsewhere in the region.
According to UNHCR, 2025 was the deadliest year on record for Rohingya sea crossings, with nearly 900 refugees reported missing or dead in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea while attempting perilous voyages.

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