Rohingya response must shift from aid dependency to self-reliance: UNHCR official

After nine years of large-scale Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, the situation remains increasingly complex. While around 90 children are born every day in the overcrowded refugee camps, newly persecuted Rohingya continue to arrive from Myanmar.

At the same time, humanitarian funding for the refugee response is declining, putting further pressure on already strained services. In Myanmar, areas of Rakhine State are now under the control of the Arakan Army, which is engaged in fighting with the military government, making the prospect of Rohingya repatriation even more challenging.

Against this backdrop, Marcel Colun, head of the UNHCR sub-office in Cox's Bazar, spoke to The Business Standard about the evolving Rohingya crisis, the funding crunch, self-reliance and the prospects for repatriation. During his 21-year career with UNHCR, Colun has served in Northeast Syria, the Great Lakes Region, East Africa, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe and the Baltic States, the Middle East and Asia. The interview was conducted by Jobaer Chowdhury, staff correspondent at TBS's Chattogram Bureau.

TBS: Recently, Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs questioned the Rohingya demographic data, denying key facts and labelling them as "Bengalis." What is UNHCR's official position on these assertions?

Colun: Since 2018, UNHCR and the Bangladesh government have operated a joint registration process, upgrading initial 2017 government data to create a comprehensive biometric identity for every Rohingya refugee linked to their original Myanmar documentation. Registration centres continuously record life events – such as births, deaths, and marriages – enabling a constantly updated database. As of 31 July, total registrations surpassed 1.2 million (1,202,034 refugees), comprising roughly 40,000 refugees displaced in the 1990s, over 1 million from the 2017 influx, and around 1,54,000 newly displaced individuals since 2024. Every individual in the system is biometrically enrolled, providing a verified identity that serves as the foundation for all humanitarian operations across the camps, including food distribution and healthcare services.

TBS: Could the ongoing registration of newly arrived Rohingya encourage more people to leave Rakhine for Bangladesh, potentially affecting the remaining Rohingya population and long-term repatriation prospects?

Colun: Seeking protection from persecution is a universal human right, and states have an obligation to ensure the safety of those fleeing persecution. Rohingya refugees continue to flee Myanmar because of persecution, serious human rights violations, armed conflict, and the risk of being targeted. Many new arrivals carry stories similar to those who fled in 2017.

The situation in the refugee camps in Bangladesh also remains extremely challenging, with overcrowding, limited access to livelihoods, education, and healthcare, and exposure to risks such as floods and landslides. Due to a lack of space, many new arrivals have had to stay with relatives or settle in unsafe areas. Humanitarian agencies, with support from the international community and the Bangladeshi government, continue to provide essential life-saving assistance, but the conditions are not conducive to encouraging people to come to Bangladesh.

Regarding repatriation, a safe and dignified return depends primarily on conditions in Myanmar. Hostilities must end, human rights violations must be addressed, and guarantees of safety, dignity, peace, and stability must be established. Based on experience in other refugee situations, including Syria and Afghanistan, refugees are likely to return once these conditions are in place. Rohingya refugees themselves consistently express a desire to return to Myanmar, but they want to do so safely, with dignity, and with the assurance that their return will be sustainable and that they will not be displaced again.

TBS: With international funding for the Rohingya response declining, how does UNHCR plan to manage the situation? What is its strategy for NGO localisation, and how will it prevent the burden from falling solely on Bangladesh if international agencies withdraw?

Colun: The Rohingya response in Bangladesh is at a critical crossroads as global humanitarian funding continues to decline. After last year's significant funding shortfall, the response has focused on prioritising life-saving activities, improving efficiency and reducing duplication. However, after nine years, it is clear that the response cannot continue with business as usual. The priority now should be to move from humanitarian dependency towards greater self-reliance by expanding opportunities in education, livelihoods and skills development. Refugees who are able to work, study and support themselves should be given the opportunity to do so, while humanitarian resources can be focused on the most vulnerable.

Investing in education and portable skills is also one of the best preparations for eventual repatriation. Rohingya should be able to return to Myanmar with the skills and capacity to rebuild their lives rather than becoming dependent on humanitarian assistance again. This requires greater investment from the Government of Bangladesh and the international community, alongside efforts to create conditions for safe and dignified return in Myanmar. Strengthening self-reliance and supporting the development of host areas can also help reduce pressure caused by declining humanitarian funding.

Localisation should also go beyond the participation of national NGOs, which have already played a major role in delivering assistance in the camps. It should include a greater role for the Government of Bangladesh, the inclusion of refugees in relevant national systems, and their direct participation in the response. As part of a national strategy on the Rohingya crisis, refugees should be allowed to establish and formally register community-based organisations so that they can participate legally and more meaningfully in decisions and activities affecting their communities.

TBS: What is UNHCR's long-term roadmap for resolving the Rohingya crisis, including reconciliation, reintegration, and preparations for repatriation in Rakhine State under Arakan Army control?

Colun: For repatriation to take place, the first and most important requirement is an end to the armed conflict and a sustained cessation of hostilities. The parties to the conflict need to engage in reconciliation to ensure that peace is lasting. Humanitarian actors, including UNHCR and NGOs, must also have unhindered access throughout Myanmar, including Rakhine State, regardless of who controls different areas, so they can provide assistance.

There must also be guarantees from the authorities in Myanmar regarding the safety, dignity and basic rights of returning Rohingya. They should be able to return to their places of origin, reclaim their land and homes, move freely within and outside Rakhine State, and access employment and other opportunities. In the medium to long term, there needs to be a pathway toward citizenship or citizenship-like rights for the Rohingya, alongside community reconciliation with other ethnic groups in Rakhine. There are examples from around the world showing that even communities affected by severe atrocities can achieve reconciliation over time. However, these longer-term processes can only begin once the immediate priorities – an end to hostilities and adequate safety and security in Rakhine State – are in place.

TBS: How do you view the formation of the 11-member National Committee for Strategic Action on Rohingya Affairs, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, nine years after the major influx? Has the government faced any strategic shortcomings in its repatriation efforts, and what should it do now?

Colun: I welcome the new government's decision to make the Rohingya crisis a priority and establish a national mechanism to address it. After nine years, we need a clear national plan and step-by-step pathway for repatriation, recognising that it is the best solution but remains complex under the current situation in Myanmar. The first priority must be an end to hostilities, followed by ensuring safety and security, access to rights, a gradual path toward citizenship and, ultimately, restoration of citizenship. Repatriation is not simply a logistical exercise; there are many conditions that must be in place before people can safely return. In the meantime, refugees need continued basic assistance as well as greater investment in education, skills and livelihoods so they can become more self-reliant. My experience with UNHCR shows that people with the means to support themselves are often the first to return when conflicts end. Therefore, empowering refugees and building their self-reliance should be a key part of the national plan. I believe establishing the committee is a positive step, but we now need to work together to clearly define and implement all the necessary steps and conditions to make repatriation possible.

TBS: How is UNHCR addressing dangerous sea crossings, shipwrecks, and human trafficking involving Rohingya refugees, and what interventions and funding are in place?

Colun: We are deeply concerned about the growing number of Rohingya undertaking extremely dangerous sea journeys. According to our data, more than 6,500 Rohingya attempted sea crossings in 2025, with around one in seven reported dead or missing, making it the deadliest year for Rohingya maritime movements in South and Southeast Asia. As of 31 July 2026, around 5,800 people had already attempted dangerous crossings, with approximately 820 reported missing or dead. These movements are driven primarily by the conflict in Myanmar, as well as the severe humanitarian conditions in the refugee camps. Unpredictable funding makes it difficult to sustain essential services, while limited access to education, employment and livelihood opportunities increases refugees' vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation. At UNHCR, together with our humanitarian partners, we are regularly raising awareness about the dangers of these journeys and prioritising the most vulnerable members of the community. We are also working to expand livelihood opportunities and engage young people in education. Through these efforts, we aim to prevent onward movement and, most importantly, further loss of life.

TBS: Unlike after the 1992 influx, when dedicated programs were established to support host communities in Bangladesh, no similar dedicated programs have been implemented since 2017. What is UNHCR's role in addressing the impact on host communities, and why has this support not been replicated?

Colun: The 2026 Joint Response Plan seeks $710 million to support 1.56 million people, including 1.2 million refugees and more than 3,00,000 members of the host communities. Host communities are already included in various humanitarian activities, including coexistence projects, water-related initiatives in Teknaf, and the employment of around 5,000 host-community volunteers. However, the humanitarian response alone cannot address the broader needs of host communities, whose challenges predate the refugee crisis but have been further exacerbated by it. A more comprehensive development approach is therefore needed for Ukhiya and Teknaf, including government and development-sector investment, job creation, and improved livelihoods for both host communities and refugees. Achieving refugee self-reliance and improving overall well-being will require integrated development of the areas where both communities live, with the needs of host communities incorporated into national development plans for Cox's Bazar, particularly Ukhiya and Teknaf.