The ongoing Rohingya crisis, now in its seventh year, remains one of the most prolonged and pressing humanitarian challenges of our time. With over a million displaced Rohingya people living in Bangladesh, the global community’s role in resolving the crisis has become more critical than ever. On Tuesday, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus brought the humanitarian crisis to the forefront in a high-level discussion on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. His call for global leaders to act assertively on the crisis stresses the need for a comprehensive, long-term solution.
Dr Yunus warned that if this crisis remains unresolved, it could destabilise Bangladesh and the entire region. When a military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state drove a significant number of Rohingya people into Bangladesh since August 2017, the burden on the host country has been immense. Bangladesh has shown outstanding generosity in providing shelter, but the tension on its resources, infrastructure and social form is unsustainable. Despite repeated assurance from Myanmar, the lack of a clear pathway for repatriation has worsened the situation.
Dr Yunus’s three-point proposal offers a plan for the global community to rethink its approach to the crisis. First, he called for a conference under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, involving all stakeholders to discuss and plan a realistic and sustainable resolution. This step is crucial, shifting the focus from mere pomposity to actionable commitment. Such a conference could pave the way for new diplomatic engagement and pressure on Myanmar to fulfil its promise.
Secondly, Dr Yunus pressed for the revival of the ‘Joint Response Plan,’ a cooperative initiative between Bangladesh and the United Nations, aimed at addressing the urgent needs of the Rohingyas. However, the plan has been severely underfunded, impeding its effectiveness. Organising financial resources is essential to ensure that the Rohingya people are provided with adequate shelter, education, healthcare and basic human dignity while they remain displaced. The global community must increase its contribution, representing a solid commitment to resolving the crisis.
Dr Yunus pressed for the revival of the ‘Joint Response Plan,’ a
cooperative initiative
between Bangladesh and the United Nations, aimed
at addressing the urgent
needs of the Rohingyas.
The third and most crucial proposal of Dr Yunus is ensuring justice for the Rohingya people. The genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Myanmar’s military junta cannot go unpunished. Liability is a fundamental pillar of any durable peace and reconciliation process. The crisis’s root causes will persist and the Rohingya people will continue to live in fear of further oppression without justice. The global community must prioritise legal action to hold those responsible for the oppression accountable, ensuring that the Rohingya people can return to Myanmar with self-respect, security and citizenship.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi lauded Dr Yunus’s leadership and highlighted the need to address the Rohingya crisis. Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Amy Pope, also reiterated the importance of keeping the Rohingya crisis at the forefront of international discussion on migration and human rights.
At the heart of this crisis lies the Rohingyas’ desire to return to their homeland. But their fears of renewed violence, discrimination and statelessness in Myanmar remain a significant impediment to repatriation. The Rohingya people have made it clear that they want to return home, but only following conditions that assure their security, rights and protection. Myanmar has thus far failed to provide these assertions. The global community’s pressure must be strengthened to ensure that repatriation is not just an outlying hope but a practical reality.
Diplomatic pressure on Myanmar must be sustained to ensure that the country creates the conditions needed for the Rohingya people’s safe, deliberate and dignified return. The global community must also remain actively engaged in holding Myanmar liable for the oppression committed against its people. The world leaders have a moral responsibility to ensure that justice is served and that the Rohingya people are allowed to rebuild their lives in peace.
The time for symbolic signs is over. The world must unite to find a durable solution that addresses the immediate humanitarian need of the Rohingya people and the broader issue of justice, safety and human rights. The Rohingya people deserve nothing less than the full support of the global community in their quest for dignity, security and a future free from fear and oppression.
