On the ninth anniversary of the 2017 military-led genocide against the Rohingya on Aug. 25, a coalition of civil society organizations—including the Blood Money Campaign, Defend Myanmar Democracy, and Progressive Voice—issued a joint declaration calling for immediate international legal intervention, emergency humanitarian funding, and full citizenship rights for displaced populations.
Escalating displacement and severe funding deficits
Over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar remain trapped in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, facing extreme hardship compounded by severe reductions in international aid.
- Deteriorating Camp Conditions: Cuts announced by the World Food Programme (WFP) have reduced monthly food assistance for vulnerable families to as little as $7 USD per month.
- Dangerous Sea Crossings: Data analyzed by ReliefWeb shows a 90 per cent increase in refugees attempting perilous sea journeys during the first quarter of 2026. In July 2026, two vessels carrying roughly 500 Rohingya capsized in choppy waters off the Myanmar coast.
Dual repression in Arakan State
The statement highlights ongoing human rights abuses committed by both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) against Rohingya communities in northern Arakan:
| Responsible Actor | Documented Persecution & Security Threats |
| Myanmar Military | Forced conscription notices in Sittwe Township (demanding 20 recruits/month), telecommunication blackouts, and aerial bombardments. |
| Arakan Army (AA) | Severe restrictions on humanitarian assistance, land confiscations, forced labor, and communications blockades. |
“Words of remembrance hold little meaning unless they are matched by concrete action and sustained support… The conditions for a safe, voluntary, and dignified return cannot be created while the root causes of genocide remain in place,” stated the three Myanmar civil society organizations in their joint statement on Aug. 25.
Four-Point call to action
- Justice & Accountability: Accelerate proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC), while supporting universal jurisdiction cases targeting war crimes and genocide.
- Protection & Aid: Fully fund the $710.5 million USD U.N. Joint Response Plan, end forced pushbacks and deportations, and secure unhindered humanitarian access corridors.
- Telecommunications Access: Press for the immediate restoration of all internet and telecommunications networks across Arakan State to enable human rights monitoring.
- Full Political Inclusion: Demand that the National Unity Government (NUG), Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs), and other resistance leaders guarantee unconditional citizenship, equal rights, and formal political representation for the Rohingya community within Myanmar’s future federal democratic framework.
