Key facts
- Myanmar's government has verified over 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh as former residents of Rakhine state.
- Repatriation is contingent on improved security conditions in Rakhine.
- The Rohingya crisis has now lasted nine years.
- Myanmar claims it verified 308,797 out of 828,824 refugees on a list from Bangladesh.
- The government stated 113,507 individuals could not be verified and 4,241 were linked to terrorist activities.
- Myanmar disputes claims of over 1 million displaced, stating over 540,000 crossed into Bangladesh in 2017.
Myanmar's military-backed government announced Saturday that it has verified over 300,000 Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh as former residents of Rakhine state, stating they can return once security conditions improve. The statement comes as the Rohingya refugee crisis enters its ninth year, following the military's 2017 crackdown that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that out of 828,824 refugees on a list provided by Bangladesh, 426,545 were verified, with 308,797 determined to be former residents of Rakhine. The ministry also reported that 113,507 individuals could not be verified and 4,241 were involved in terrorist activities.
Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as a national ethnic minority, referring to them as Bengalis. The government rejected claims of over 1 million displaced, stating more than 540,000 crossed into Bangladesh after the 2017 violence, with over 200,000 remaining in northern Rakhine.
Repatriation plans have been unsuccessful since the 2018 agreement, exacerbated by the 2021 military takeover and subsequent widespread armed resistance. Recent fighting in 2023 between the Arakan Army and the military has further destabilized the region, prompting more refugees to flee towards Bangladesh.
Amidst poor camp conditions and aid cuts, some Rohingya have attempted dangerous sea crossings. Separately, Malaysia's Prime Minister stated Myanmar agreed to accept 5,000 Rohingya refugees from Malaysia, though a Myanmar official clarified this program focused on detainees and rejected broader Rohingya acceptance.