On Anniversary of Rohingya Displacement, UN Chief Calls for Civilian Protection and Global Solidarity

Arakan Now | 25 August 2025

Eight years since the mass displacement of Rohingya from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of a further deterioration in their already dire circumstances.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Guterres noted that Rohingya and other civilians in Rakhine remain caught in the crossfire between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, subjected to forced recruitment, human rights violations, and other abuses. Continued violence has pushed more Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh, which already hosts more than 1.1 million refugees. Reports of pushbacks and deportations in the region have also raised serious concerns over violations of international refugee protections.

At the same time, funding cuts are crippling education, food assistance, healthcare, livelihoods, and protection services for displaced communities.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call for the protection of all civilians under international human rights, humanitarian, and refugee law. He recalled his visit earlier this year to Cox’s Bazar, where he witnessed the resilience of Rohingya communities and stressed the urgent need for strengthened global solidarity and increased support, alongside a comprehensive political solution that includes Rohingya voices and addresses the root causes of displacement.

Looking ahead, Guterres expressed hope that the High-Level Conference on Rohingya and Other Minorities in Myanmar, scheduled for 30 September 2025 in New York, will renew international attention on finding durable solutions.

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar continues to engage stakeholders towards ending violence and building conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya to their homeland.

Source: United Nations – Statement by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 25 August 2025