OVER the past decade, the international community has watched the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar evolve into one of the most pressing humanitarian emergencies of our time. At the centre of the response has been the United Nations — praised for its humanitarian efforts, yet criticised for political paralysis and delayed action.
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group rooted in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, have faced decades of systemic discrimination. Denied citizenship under the 1982 law, they have long lived as stateless people with limited access to education, healthcare, and freedom of movement. Regarded by the Myanmar government and many in the Buddhist-majority population as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, the Rohingya have remained politically and socially marginalised despite their historic ties to the region.
In August 2017, tensions exploded after an insurgent group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, attacked security posts. The Myanmar military retaliated with a brutal campaign of violence — marked by mass killings, rape, and widespread arson. Over 740,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, joining hundreds of thousands already living in refugee camps.
The United Nations quickly labelled the events a ‘textbook example of ethnic cleansing’. Yet critics argue that the UN’s initial response was slow and undermined by Myanmar’s refusal to allow access to international observers. Before the crisis peaked, UN officials had already raised alarms about growing unrest but were limited in their ability to intervene or even investigate.
In the wake of the exodus, UN agencies mounted an unprecedented humanitarian response. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration led massive relief efforts in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh —now home to Kutupalong, the largest refugee settlement on Earth. Emergency shelters, food aid, sanitation, and medical care were delivered to over a million displaced people.
UNICEF established learning centres for children, while the World Food Programme ensured consistent food supplies. These programmes were vital to survival, but challenges persisted. Donor fatigue became a growing concern; by 2023, only 55 per cent of the requested Joint Response Plan funds were fulfilled, putting critical services at risk.
Beyond aid, the UN has made significant strides in accountability. In 2017, the Human Rights Council formed an Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, which in 2018 accused Myanmar’s military of atrocities with ‘genocidal intent’. This led to the creation of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar in 2019, tasked with preserving evidence for future legal proceedings. That same year, the International Criminal Court launched a formal investigation into alleged crimes against humanity based on forced deportations into Bangladesh.
However, progress on the political front has been repeatedly stalled by vetoes in the UN Security Council. Permanent members China and Russia have blocked stronger action, including sanctions and referrals to the ICC. Meanwhile, Myanmar’s cooperation with the UN deteriorated sharply after the 2021 military coup, which ousted the elected civilian government. The ruling junta rejected official UN representatives, restricted access to conflict zones, and sidelined international dialogue.
An internal 2019 UN review further complicated the organisation’s image. The report found that UN officials had failed to confront growing signs of mass violence in Myanmar, prioritising diplomatic relations over urgent human rights concerns. This admission intensified scrutiny over whether the UN had done enough before the crisis erupted.
Efforts to repatriate the Rohingya have also faced major obstacles. In 2018 and 2019, proposed returns were halted after refugees refused to go back without guarantees of safety, citizenship, and basic rights. Most feared renewed violence, and rightfully so — the conditions in Myanmar remained hostile.
Hope, however, has recently resurfaced. In a diplomatic breakthrough, Myanmar has verified 180,000 Rohingya from a list provided by Bangladesh as eligible for repatriation. While questions remain about the genuineness and safety of this process, it marks the first significant progress in years.
Adding momentum to these developments, Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus joined UN secretary-general António Guterres in a high-profile visit to Cox’s Bazar in March 2025. Dr Yunus pledged to work with the UN to ensure that the Rohingya can celebrate the next Eid in their homeland. The promise sparked cautious optimism in the refugee camps, rekindling hopes that resolution may no longer be so distant.
Nonetheless, the strain on host countries, particularly Bangladesh, continues to mount. The Bangladeshi government has urged the UN to expedite repatriation while simultaneously relocating thousands to the remote Bhasan Char island to ease overcrowding. Although the move has drawn criticism for safety concerns, Bangladesh defends it as a necessary measure to manage the crisis.
Throughout it all, the UN has remained a key player — delivering life-saving aid, advocating for justice, and keeping the crisis in global focus. Programmes offering informal education, psychosocial support, and vocational training have empowered thousands, particularly young Rohingya, to envision futures beyond survival.
But experts argue that the UN must do more. Stronger diplomatic pressure on Myanmar, deeper regional engagement with actors like ASEAN, and increased support for host nations are all essential. Additionally, meaningful inclusion of Rohingya voices in repatriation talks and national dialogues is key to ensuring their dignity and long-term reintegration.
Supporting ongoing legal proceedings through the ICC and International Court of Justice is also vital. Justice for past atrocities, observers argue, is necessary to prevent future ones. And as the crisis stretches into its eighth year, durable solutions —focused on education, livelihood, and human rights — are urgently needed to prevent a generation from being lost to statelessness and despair.
The UN’s role in the Rohingya crisis is a tale of both action and inaction, resilience and restraint. While its humanitarian interventions have saved lives and legal efforts have laid foundations for justice, political realities and internal missteps have hindered greater impact. Yet with renewed international attention and visible support from figures like Dr Yunus, a long-stalled crisis may finally be edging toward resolution.
For over a million Rohingya still in limbo, the path home remains uncertain — but no longer unimaginable.
Nadiya Priya Nice is a student of English and modern languages at the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology.
