Humanitarian actors call for support, dignified repatriation roadmap for Rohingyas

Humanitarian stakeholders have called for greater dignity and support for Rohingya refugees and host communities, alongside a clear roadmap for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of displaced Rohingya to Myanmar.

The demands were raised at a seminar organized by the Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum (CCNF) and COAST Foundation at the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) in Cox’s Bazar, marking World Refugee Day 2026.

Bangladesh currently hosts around 1.6 million Rohingya refugees. Speakers noted that while the government, local communities, NGOs and UN agencies have provided extensive humanitarian support since the 2017 influx, declining international funding has created significant challenges.

According to organizers, the 2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP) requires US$710.5 million to support refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. However, only US$368.3 million had been secured by June, leaving the appeal less than half funded.

Presenting the keynote paper, COAST Foundation’s Md. Iqbal Uddin criticized the limited participation of local NGOs in the JRP implementation process and urged a revision of the definition of local organizations to recognize Cox’s Bazar-based institutions led by local people. He also called for stronger involvement of local government bodies, district administration and the RRRC in decision-making.

Speakers highlighted that recent humanitarian financing has largely bypassed local actors despite global commitments to localization. They proposed a “JRP 2.0” framework that would combine humanitarian assistance with a practical repatriation strategy.

RRRC Mohammed Mizanur Rahman stressed the need to address groundwater depletion, while Rohingya Coordination Platform Head David Bugden emphasized international diplomatic efforts to facilitate repatriation. UNHCR’s Marcel Grogan underscored the importance of peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities as efforts continue toward a sustainable solution to the crisis.