Rohingya Refugee Crisis
Today, nearly one million Rohingya refugees continue to live in dire conditions … addressing the root causes of systematic discrimination, disenfranchisement and communal violence in Myanmar is critical.
Overview
More than eight years after over 750,000 Rohingya Muslims fled violence in Myanmar – joining hundreds of thousands displaced in previous years – the crisis remains one of the world’s largest and most protracted refugee emergencies. Today, nearly one million Rohingya live in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, with little prospect of return or durable solutions.
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority long denied citizenship and basic rights in Myanmar, fled waves of violence that culminated in 2017 in what the UN described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” While the exodus has slowed, new arrivals continue, as conflict and persecution inside Myanmar persist.
Conditions in Bangladesh are increasingly precarious. Opportunities for education and livelihoods remain limited, while overcrowding, insecurity, and trafficking heighten risks for already vulnerable families. Shrinking aid budgets further strain humanitarian operations, even as needs remain urgent.
In this In Focus section, UN News highlights the humanitarian and political dimensions of the Rohingya crisis, the efforts of the international community to support refugees and host communities, and the search for a lasting solution that ensures safe, voluntary, and dignified return.
Regional refugee and displacement situation
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar has deteriorated sharply since February 2021 due to escalating conflict and ongoing political upheaval. Millions of people are now internally displaced across the country, particularly in Rakhine, Kachin, and southeastern states, while thousands have fled to neighbouring countries.
The majority of Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh, with smaller populations in Malaysia and India. Other refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar are hosted in Thailand, Malaysia, and India. Humanitarian access inside Myanmar remains limited, constraining aid delivery and protection for vulnerable populations.
UN agencies, notably the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and partners are working to provide lifesaving assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, including shelter, food, and protection services. Efforts also focus on supporting host communities and creating pathways for durable solutions where possible.
High-level conference on the Rohingya and other minorities
World leaders, UN officials and civil society will gather on 30 September 2025 at United Nations Headquarters, in New York, for a High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar.
The convening stems from General Assembly resolution A/RES/79/278, which mandates the Assembly to hold the conference with the aim of renewing political momentum around solutions for Rohingya, other minorities and advancing accountability.
The resolution lays out that the conference should examine the root causes of displacement, review the situation on the ground, mobilize political support and international resources, and propose a concrete, time-bound plan for safe, voluntary and dignified returns and durable solutions.
Coming at a moment when shrinking aid budgets, protracted displacement, and renewed persecution in Myanmar challenge both humanitarian and political strategies, the conference is seen as a critical opportunity to galvanize renewed global engagement.
Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM)
Established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2018, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) is a Geneva-based entity tasked with collecting, preserving, and analyzing evidence of the most serious international crimes committed in Myanmar since 2011. These include genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The IIMM operates independently and impartially, focusing solely on evidence gathering and analysis to support accountability efforts.
The IIMM’s mandate is to prepare case files that can facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings in national, regional, or international courts or tribunals with jurisdiction over these crimes. It is not a prosecutorial body and does not have the authority to arrest or prosecute individuals. Instead, it consolidates and analyzes evidence to assist relevant authorities in their investigations and prosecutions.
The Mechanism investigates serious international crimes regardless of the perpetrator’s affiliation or official capacity, or the victim’s race, ethnicity, or religion.
Despite its critical role in documenting human rights violations, the IIMM faces significant challenges, including funding constraints that threaten its operational capacity. Its leadership has warned that without additional resources, the Mechanism's ability to continue its vital work may be severely hampered.