Desperate Rohingya Begin Return to War-Torn Myanmar

Development Media Group

A growing number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are quietly returning to Myanmar’s Arakan State, driven by worsening conditions in the camps and fears of armed groups operating within them.

Facing severe cuts in aid and increasing insecurity, some families are now choosing to go back to the region they once fled in terror. The World Food Programme recently halved monthly food support—from $12.50 to just $6 per person—leaving many unable to meet basic needs.

Refugees are barred from working outside the camps, and desperation is mounting.

“For families with children, it’s no longer survivable,” one refugee in the Kutupalong Camp told DMG. “Only those who are certain they can’t make it here are going back.”

Those returning are heading to villages in northern Maungdaw and Buthidaung—areas now under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), not the military junta. But even in these regions, their safety and long-term future remain uncertain. AA officials have verified some returns but admit others have bypassed formal checks.

Since the brutal 2017 crackdown that pushed over 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, repatriation efforts have made little progress. Recent instability following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup has made matters worse, with renewed fighting forcing yet more Rohingya to flee in 2024.

Adding to the pressure, armed Rohingya groups in the camps have reportedly begun recruiting young men to fight in Myanmar, sparking fear and disillusionment. The International Crisis Group warned this could escalate tensions with the AA and complicate repatriation plans further.

Bangladeshi officials deny such activity is taking place, but the atmosphere of intimidation persists.

The exact number of those returning remains unclear. But their decision speaks volumes about conditions in the camps—and the desperation of those caught between a hostile homeland and a crumbling refuge.

While both Myanmar’s junta and previous civilian governments have claimed to support refugee returns, meaningful progress has yet to materialise. For now, it appears the most vulnerable Rohingya are taking matters into their own hands—returning not with hope, but because they see no other choice.

-2025-06-26