By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, May 26, 2025 — In a rare and significant development, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed that 82 Rohingya refugees have voluntarily returned to Rakhine State in western Myanmar — the first such instance of confirmed voluntary repatriation since the mass exodus of 2017.
According to UNHCR’s latest cross-border humanitarian update covering May 12–18, the returnees wanted to reclaim their farmland, restart livelihoods, and rebuild small businesses in their native villages, particularly in Maungdaw Township.
Bangladeshi authorities, while acknowledging the development, reiterated their position that any repatriation must be safe, voluntary, and dignified, in line with international standards. Government officials have not issued detailed comments on the return but are monitoring the situation closely.
A Fragile Return Amid Deep Uncertainty
The returnees are believed to have crossed into AA-controlled areas of Rakhine, with many reportedly seeking assurances or registration documents from the Arakan Army (AA/ULA) — the ethnic armed group that currently exerts de facto control over much of northern Rakhine.
While UNHCR has not found evidence of direct coercion, the agency noted that it remains unclear what conditions or guarantees, if any, were provided by AA officials. “Some returnees mentioned informal negotiations with AA representatives,” the report stated, while others allegedly paid bribes to secure permission to return.
There are also unverified reports that the AA has been interrogating returnees about life in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, as well as about the activities of organized groups and community leaders. Rohingya activists fear such tactics may put returnees at risk and could be used to monitor or suppress refugee voices.
More Returns Expected
The report also indicates that a second group of 30 to 40 individuals is planning to return to Maungdaw in the coming days. Some are said to be waiting for further documentation or guarantees from the AA before moving forward.
Rohingya community leaders in the refugee camps have expressed concern that returns under armed group control, in the absence of international oversight and without restoration of citizenship, could be dangerous and premature.
Aid Cuts and Desperation
The small wave of returns comes amid deepening humanitarian despair in Bangladesh’s refugee camps, where over 1.2 million Rohingya remain confined. With food aid slashed, job restrictions enforced, and futures uncertain, some families are beginning to see return — even under unstable conditions — as a lesser evil.
Still, most Rohingya say they will not return unless citizenship, safety, and dignity are ensured — three pillars long absent in Myanmar’s treatment of the community.
Global Support Remains Scarce
UNHCR has renewed its call for increased international funding and support, warning that the situation remains volatile on both sides of the border. The agency has appealed for $383.1 million for 2025 to sustain Rohingya operations across Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
As of mid-May, only 30% of that target has been met, prompting concerns about the long-term viability of health, education, and protection services for refugees.
“Until conditions inside Rakhine are safe, inclusive, and sustainable, there can be no just or lasting return,” UNHCR emphasized in its statement. “In the meantime, host countries and Rohingya communities must not be left to face this crisis alone.”
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