World News
Rohingya crisis enters ninth year as refugees face new displacement and shrinking aid
Ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state continues to drive Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, where humanitarian funding cuts are worsening camp conditions.
The short version
- Nine years after a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar, approximately 1.2 million Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh, with new arrivals fleeing fighting between the military junta and the Arakan Army.
- Declining international donor contributions have led to reductions in food aid, with World Food Program rations dropping to as little as $7 per person per month under a new tiered system.
- Refugees face growing risks of criminal exploitation, hazardous sea journeys to Malaysia, and recruitment into armed groups due to a lack of legal employment options in Bangladesh.
Key facts
- Roughly 1 million Rohingya reside in the primary refugee settlement near Cox's Bazar, with an additional 200,000 living elsewhere in Bangladesh.[NPR]
- According to the U.N. refugee agency, 154,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since 2024 amid rising instability in Rakhine state.[NPR]
- In May, the U.N. and Bangladesh requested $710.5 million for refugee aid; international donors have funded roughly 66% of the appeal to date.[NPR]
- U.S. aid pledges for the Rohingya response decreased from $300 million in 2024 to a total of $133 million pledged across two commitments in 2025.[NPR]
What remains uncertain
- The timeline and safety conditions required for potential repatriation of Rohingya to Rakhine state remain undetermined while conflict persists.[NPR]