Arakan News Agency
The United Nations has warned that the Rohingya crisis has worsened eight years after their forced displacement from Arakan State in western Myanmar, stressing that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating amid shrinking international funding and ongoing violations against them.
Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, said that “ending impunity and ensuring the Rohingya’s rights to security, citizenship, and equality are essential for breaking the cycle of violence.”
He added that the Myanmar military and Buddhist Arakan militias (Arakan Army) have committed and continue to commit heinous crimes against the Rohingya with complete impunity, in blatant violation of international law.
Laurence also warned of the gravity of the situation in light of the funding crisis, saying that Rohingya in both Myanmar and Bangladesh are facing catastrophic conditions, compounded by drastic cuts in food assistance, urging the international community to step up humanitarian support and secure their basic needs.
For its part, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced that it requires $256 million to support the Rohingya this year but has received only 38% of that amount.
More than one million Rohingya fled from Arakan State in western Myanmar in recent years after the Myanmar military launched a genocidal campaign against them in 2017. The separatist Arakan Army also launched a military campaign to seize control of the state in November 2023, subjecting them again to violence, displacement, and forced recruitment. Most Rohingya now live in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, while many others are seeking to move to third countries in search of better living conditions.
