FM Urges More Global Funding for Rohingya Crisis

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has expressed deep concern over declining international assistance for the Rohingya population, urging the global community to step up funding and take urgent action to address the crisis.

He made the call while speaking as a panellist at a session titled “Global Refugee Protection System in the Face of Displacement Crisis” at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 in Turkey on Friday.

The Foreign Minister stressed the need to ensure stability and security in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and to safeguard human rights, noting that sustainable solutions must go beyond humanitarian aid.

He called for stronger and more proactive international engagement to create conditions conducive to the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

Highlighting the root cause of the crisis, he said a lasting solution lies within Rakhine State. He also noted that since assuming office, he has received a positive response from both the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army.

Reiterating his position, Dr Rahman said the Rohingya crisis remains solvable if supported by coordinated global efforts and sustained international cooperation.

Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have also urged the international community to maintain funding for life-saving assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, as well as support for host communities.

The agencies warned that shrinking aid, poor living conditions in camps, and limited access to education and livelihoods are pushing many refugees to undertake dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and better opportunities.

They noted that misinformation and false promises of jobs abroad, often spread by smuggling networks, are driving both Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals to take such risks, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking.

Ongoing violence in Rakhine State has further diminished prospects for safe return in the near future, while the Andaman Sea continues to claim lives as people attempt perilous crossings.

The agencies stressed that without urgent and collective international action to address the root causes of displacement, more lives will be lost on these dangerous routes.

They also emphasised the need to create conditions that would allow Rohingya refugees to return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity.