Ongoing violence between Myanmar's military and separatist forces has created conditions that prevent displaced Rohingya Muslims from returning to their homes, according to UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop. The western Rakhine State has experienced severe fighting since the 2021 military coup that removed the elected government. Many Rohingya fled the region during a 2017 military operation that several nations have characterized as genocide.
Bishop noted that the Rohingya population wishes to return and rebuild their communities in Rakhine but faces seemingly impossible obstacles due to the escalating conflict. Conditions in the state have worsened dramatically since November 2023, further endangering Rohingya residents. The UN human rights office reports that both military forces and the ethnic Arakan Army have violated international law by committing serious crimes against the Rohingya minority. The impoverished coastal region bordering Bangladesh continues to witness intense suffering amid the broader civil war.
Bishop noted that the Rohingya population wishes to return and rebuild their communities in Rakhine but faces seemingly impossible obstacles due to the escalating conflict. Conditions in the state have worsened dramatically since November 2023, further endangering Rohingya residents. The UN human rights office reports that both military forces and the ethnic Arakan Army have violated international law by committing serious crimes against the Rohingya minority. The impoverished coastal region bordering Bangladesh continues to witness intense suffering amid the broader civil war.
