Solution To Rohingya Crisis Lies In Myanmar: UNHCR Chief

UNHCR Chief: Solution To Rohingya Crisis Lies In Myanmar

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi has warned that the plight of the Rohingya people cannot be resolved without bold action inside Myanmar, stressing that the solution to the long-running crisis lies there.

“The most important, however, 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 UN Headquarters on Tuesday.

He recalled that eight years ago, brutal violence by Myanmar’s military forced 750,000 Rohingyas to flee to Bangladesh, while many others were displaced within Rakhine State. Despite the Arakan Army now controlling most of the state, he said the Rohingyas’ situation “has not improved.”

“They continue to face arbitrary arrest and detention, restricted access to healthcare and education, severe limits on movement, forced labour, and recruitment. Their lives remain defined by racism and fear,” Grandi noted.

The UNHCR chief expressed deep gratitude to Bangladesh, which now hosts nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees and has taken in another 150,000 since renewed fighting erupted in 2024.

“Despite enormous challenges, Bangladesh continues to host them — setting an example for the world. It shows that compassion is still possible at a time when indifference and inaction are fast becoming the norm,” he said.

Grandi praised institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank for providing over $1.25 billion in support but cautioned that the humanitarian response in Bangladesh remains “chronically underfunded.” Without additional resources, he warned, essential aid will be cut, putting children at risk of malnutrition and driving more refugees to attempt perilous sea journeys.

He urged the international community to step up with greater funding, resettlement opportunities, education, and labour mobility pathways. But he stressed that humanitarian aid alone cannot resolve the crisis.

“We cannot continue down a path of inertia and somehow expect a resolution while an entire population wastes away,” Grandi said, noting that the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission remain key to achieving voluntary, safe, and sustainable return of refugees.

He called on influential countries to intensify engagement with both Myanmar’s de facto authorities and the Arakan Army to secure humanitarian access, restore confidence-building measures, and pursue durable solutions for displaced people.

Drawing lessons from other conflicts, he emphasized: “It is possible, through sustained political engagement and innovative approaches, to change the trajectory of conflicts that seem intractable.”

Grandi concluded with a call for principled, pragmatic action: “We have no other choice if we want to chart a new course for the people of Myanmar — one that is forward-looking and lasting — and if we want to bring a true 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 mobilize resources and advance protection, resilience, and solutions for all displaced people within and from Myanmar,” he added.