UN Refugee Chief Urges Increased Aid to Myanmar Minorities

(MENAFN) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on Tuesday appealed to the global community to intensify its assistance for the Rohingya Muslim population and other minority groups originating from Myanmar.

He cautioned that dwindling financial resources are endangering lives.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly High-Level Conference on Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities, Grandi remarked that “as in other crises and given the way conflicts are conducted by parties across the country, too often disregarding the rules of war, civilians are killed, wounded, deprived of the basics; 5.1 million are displaced, of whom 1.6 million have taken refuge in neighboring countries.”

Grandi emphasized the particularly severe circumstances endured by the Rohingya people, describing their situation as “unique.”

He elaborated: “Their plight is somehow unique, not only do they continue to be discriminated, deprived of rights and abused -- a situation they have endured for decades -- but they are also caught in one of several ethnic conflicts affecting the country, except it is not their own: the one pitching the Arakan Army in Rakhine State against the de facto authorities.”

He further pointed out that the Rohingya are forced to live under constant threat, facing the danger of arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, with limited access to medical services and schooling.

Their movement is heavily restricted. They endure forced labor and are vulnerable to coerced military recruitment. According to Grandi, “Their lives are defined by fear.”

Grandi also acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of regional host countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, with special recognition for Bangladesh, which currently shelters nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees.

However, he issued a stark warning regarding the deteriorating funding situation: “The humanitarian response in Bangladesh remains chronically underfunded, including in key areas like food and cooking fuel. The prospects for funding next year are grim.”

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