Nine years on, Rohingya displacement remains unresolved

A decade-long humanitarian emergency has left Rohingya refugees living in protracted displacement, with humanitarian agencies warning of continuing protection, health and education needs and little progress toward a durable solution.

Protracted displacement

Nine years after large-scale forced departures of Rohingya from their homes, hundreds of thousands remain displaced, living in camps and settlements where dependence on aid is high and prospects for a secure future are limited. Humanitarian organisations continue to describe the situation as a long-running emergency marked by overcrowding, restricted movement and persistent protection concerns.

Humanitarian needs and living conditions

Aid groups report sustained needs for food, shelter, healthcare and education. Children and young people face interrupted schooling and limited opportunities for normal development. Health services are stretched, and agencies warn that any reduction in assistance risks a deterioration in living standards and well-being among refugees who have already experienced trauma and loss.

Diplomatic and political obstacles to return

Efforts to facilitate the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees have repeatedly stalled amid political and security impediments, disagreements over citizenship and concerns about conditions in places of origin. International actors have urged durable, rights-respecting solutions, but progress has been slow, leaving many refugees in limbo.

International response and the search for solutions

Donors and humanitarian organisations continue to provide emergency relief and advocate for longer-term arrangements that address statelessness, protection and livelihoods. Governments and multilateral bodies have alternated between diplomatic pressure, legal processes and development pledges, but a comprehensive resolution that would allow large-scale, sustainable returns or local integration has yet to materialise.

Looking ahead

As the crisis enters its tenth year, aid agencies stress the importance of sustained funding and coordinated action to prevent further human suffering and to create pathways to durable solutions. Without concerted political will and tangible improvements on the ground, the Rohingya are likely to remain among the world's most vulnerable displaced populations for the foreseeable future.