The United Kingdom has highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting Rohingya refugees and other minorities in Myanmar, eight years after the conflict began. Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, praised Bangladesh for its continued generosity in hosting the refugees while emphasizing that systematic blockages of aid and trade have pushed malnutrition and food insecurity to emergency levels. In Rakhine State, 1.5 million people are resorting to extreme coping measures, and without intervention, the region faces a real risk of famine.
In response, the UK announced an additional $36 million in support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. This funding will focus on providing basic and urgent needs, including food, clean water, healthcare, and protection services. Since 2017, the UK has contributed a total of $596 million to support the refugees and over $154 million to assist communities in Rakhine State. Beyond immediate relief, the new funding will also support initiatives to provide Rohingya refugees with skills and tools for future self-reliance, reducing their dependence on aid.
The UK stressed that addressing the crisis requires more than financial support. Efforts must focus on creating safe conditions in Rakhine State to allow the Rohingya to return home, ensuring full and unhindered humanitarian access, and ending violence against civilians, including airstrikes. Ambassador Kariuki reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to continue working with Bangladesh and international partners to support refugees and to keep the Rohingya crisis high on the international agenda through the UN Security Council.
The conference served as an opportunity to maintain global attention on the situation in Rakhine and the urgent funding needs in refugee camps. The UK urged the international community to increase financial support and prioritize humanitarian access, emphasizing that, despite the many global crises, the plight of the Rohingya must not be forgotten.
