The Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh is entering a critical phase as it marks nine years since a military offensive in Myanmar displaced hundreds of thousands of people. On Aug. 25, 2017, Myanmar’s military and armed civilians launched attacks that killed at least 6,700 people in a single month and forced between 700,000 and 750,000 Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh. Today, roughly 1 million Rohingya live in refugee camps, with an additional 200,000 scattered elsewhere in the country, making it the world’s largest refugee settlement. Despite the passage of nearly a decade, the situation shows no signs of resolution.
Inflow into the camps continues despite existing overcrowding. According to U.N. refugee agency officials, 154,000 more Rohingya have arrived since 2024 as conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine state remain unstable. The 2021 military coup in Myanmar and subsequent civil war between the junta and the Arakan Army have created additional pressures forcing people to leave. The Arakan Army now controls much of Rakhine and faces accusations of abusing Rohingya civilians, while a junta blockade has cut off food, medicine and humanitarian aid to the territory.
Conditions in the camps are deteriorating as international attention and funding dwindle. Humanitarian rations have fluctuated dramatically, dropping from $12 per person monthly to as low as $7 under a new tiered system in April. Malnutrition among young children remains severe, with 40 percent of those under five experiencing chronic malnutrition. Barred from legal employment in Bangladesh, refugees depend almost entirely on aid, leaving many families struggling to meet basic needs.
Experts warn that without increased international engagement and support, the situation will worsen. Some refugees are attempting perilous boat journeys to Malaysia, while others face recruitment into Myanmar’s civil conflict or criminal organizations. The U.N. and Bangladesh government launched a $710.5 million appeal in May to cover essential services, though this represents a decrease from previous years’ requests. Analysts emphasize that discussions about repatriation are premature given ongoing instability and the continued arrival of new refugees from Myanmar.
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