Dhaka On the eighth anniversary of the mass Rohingya exodus from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, eleven Western countries have reiterated their commitment to stand by Bangladesh. In a joint statement, Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Switzerland, and Finland pledged continued support.
In 2017, Myanmar’s military crackdown forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee across the border. Today, more than 1.1 million refugees remain in camps in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char, with new arrivals still being reported. Despite ongoing hardships, the international community has recognized the resilience of the Rohingya people.
The statement noted that the worsening humanitarian and security situation in Rakhine has made resolving the crisis even more difficult. It expressed gratitude to the people and interim government of Bangladesh, not only for sheltering the refugees but also for continuing to provide lifesaving assistance.
While Rohingya refugees aspire to return to Myanmar, conditions for safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation have yet to be established. Thousands remain displaced across the border, and the international community stressed that only a peaceful and stable environment in Myanmar can make repatriation possible.
The Western nations condemned ongoing violence and human rights violations by Myanmar’s military junta and armed groups, calling for an immediate end to hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access, and the release of arbitrarily detained individuals. They also reaffirmed the need for accountability for violations of international law.
Looking ahead to a high-level international conference on the Rohingya crisis in September, the statement emphasized the urgency of finding long-term solutions. With humanitarian funding in decline, it called for greater self-reliance among the refugees while preparing them for eventual return. The countries also pledged continued support for host communities in Bangladesh.
The statement further highlighted the importance of meaningful Rohingya participation and inclusive representation to ensure they can live safe, dignified, and purposeful lives while in Bangladesh. Even after eight years, the Western nations reaffirmed their commitment to stand alongside both the Rohingya and Bangladesh.