by Hafizur Rahman
Cox’s Bazar | December 15, 2025
Repatriation remains the only lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis, but current conditions in Arakan State make it impossible at this time, China’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, said on Sunday, citing ongoing conflict and insecurity inside Myanmar.
The ambassador made the remarks while speaking to journalists after signing a memorandum of understanding with UNHCR for a USD 2.5 million support package for Rohingya refugees living in camps in Cox’s Bazar.
“We have to be realistic,” Yao said. “Because of the security situation in Arakan State, it is very difficult to start repatriation at this moment.”
He said continued fighting and instability inside Myanmar remain the main obstacles to any return process. Without peace on the ground, refugees cannot return safely or with dignity, he added, stressing that a ceasefire is necessary before meaningful progress can be made.
Yao also said there is no fixed timeline for repatriation, noting that the process depends on multiple factors and sustained international engagement. “The Rohingyas have been living here for eight years,” he said. “This issue should not be delayed forever, but it is very complicated.”
He emphasized that repatriation must be safe, voluntary, and dignified, requiring guarantees of security, legal rights, and livelihoods. He called for coordinated efforts involving China, Bangladesh, ASEAN countries, international organisations, and Western nations, warning that the Rohingya crisis poses risks not only to humanitarian conditions but also to regional peace and stability.
Inside the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, daily life remains difficult. Rohingya families continue to rely heavily on humanitarian assistance for food, cooking fuel, and other basic needs. Many refugees say they wish to return home but fear doing so without safety, citizenship rights, or legal protection.
In a separate statement, UNHCR said China’s USD 2.5 million contribution will help sustain the supply of liquefied petroleum gas in the camps. The programme reduces the need for firewood collection, lowers safety risks for women and children, and helps protect surrounding forests.
UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Ivo Freijsen welcomed the support, saying it comes at a critical time as global humanitarian funding declines. He said the project supports not only basic needs but also dignity and safety, reminding refugees that international attention has not faded.
Ambassador Yao said that as some countries reduce humanitarian support, vulnerable populations suffer the most. He added that China, as a long term development partner of Bangladesh, will continue working with the government and UNHCR to ensure assistance reaches displaced people from Arakan State as quickly as possible.
For now, repatriation remains a future goal. Until conditions change inside Myanmar, humanitarian support in the camps remains a lifeline for more than one million Rohingya refugees waiting for a safe and dignified return home.
