The United Nations has reported a sharp surge in Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar, with an estimated 150,000 people crossing into Bangladesh over the past 18 months amid intensifying conflict and targeted violence in Rakhine state. This marks the largest influx of Rohingya into the country since the mass exodus of 2017.
Thousands of Rohingya continue to arrive in Bangladesh seeking refuge, joining nearly one million others already living in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned that conditions inside Myanmar are rapidly deteriorating, pushing more civilians across the border.
“This is the largest movement of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh since 2017,” said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch at a press briefing in Geneva. Unlike the sudden wave of 750,000 refugees in 2017, the current displacement has been more gradual, he noted.
UNHCR is working closely with Bangladeshi authorities to address urgent humanitarian needs and advocate for safe, managed entry for those fleeing the violence.
Bangladesh has long been a refuge for the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority facing persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. However, the arrival of thousands more – many of them women and children – is placing additional strain on limited resources in the camps.
As of late June, approximately 121,000 new arrivals had undergone biometric registration, although many more are believed to be living informally within the camps. Shelter remains a critical concern, with aid agencies struggling to accommodate the growing population within the limited 24 square kilometres available.
“These new arrivals are adding to an already overstretched situation,” Baloch said. “More humanitarian assistance is urgently needed.”
While aid organizations continue to provide basic services such as food, healthcare, education, and relief supplies, the overall response is now at risk due to a severe funding shortfall. UNHCR’s $255 million humanitarian appeal for 2024 is currently only 35 percent funded. The agency has warned that without immediate support, the operation could face systemic collapse.
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