Arakan News Agency
China’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, has reaffirmed that voluntary repatriation remains the only durable and long-term solution to the Rohingya crisis, but stressed that it is not feasible at present due to continued fighting and the lack of security inside Arakan State in Myanmar.
The ambassador made the remarks while speaking to journalists after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide USD 2.5 million in financial support for Rohingya refugees living in the camps of Cox’s Bazar.
“We have to be realistic,” Yao Wen said. “Because of the security situation in Arakan State, it is very difficult to start the repatriation process at this moment.” He noted that ongoing conflict and instability in Myanmar remain the main barriers to any return initiative.
The Chinese envoy explained that the absence of peace on the ground prevents refugees from returning in a safe and dignified manner, emphasizing that a ceasefire is a fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful progress toward repatriation.
He added that there is no fixed timeline for the return of Rohingya refugees, given the complexity of the crisis and its dependence on multiple factors and sustained international cooperation.
Yao Wen pointed out that the Rohingya have been living in refugee camps for eight years, stressing that the crisis should not be allowed to continue indefinitely, but requires a realistic and comprehensive approach.
He underscored that any repatriation must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, and must include guarantees of security, legal rights, and sustainable livelihoods.
The ambassador called for coordinated efforts involving China, Bangladesh, ASEAN countries, international organizations, and Western states, warning that the prolonged Rohingya crisis poses threats not only to humanitarian conditions but also to regional peace and stability.
In the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, living conditions remain extremely difficult, with more than one million Rohingya refugees relying almost entirely on humanitarian assistance for food, cooking fuel, and other basic needs.
Many refugees have expressed their desire to return to their homes in Arakan State, but remain fearful of doing so in the absence of security, citizenship rights, and legal protection.
UNHCR, for its part, said China’s USD 2.5 million contribution will support the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution programme in the camps, helping to reduce firewood collection, lower safety risks faced by women and children, and protect surrounding forests.
UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Ivo Freijsen welcomed the Chinese support, describing it as timely amid a global decline in humanitarian funding, and noting that the project not only meets basic needs but also promotes dignity and safety for refugees.
Ambassador Yao added that as some countries scale back humanitarian contributions, vulnerable populations suffer the most, reaffirming China’s commitment—as a long-term development partner of Bangladesh—to continue working with the Bangladeshi government and UNHCR to ensure assistance reaches displaced people from Arakan State as quickly as possible.
As long as insecurity persists inside Myanmar, repatriation remains a deferred solution, while humanitarian aid continues to be a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees awaiting a safe and dignified return to their homeland.
