Refugees International Statement on Sixth Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day

Statement from Refugees International:

“August 25, 2023, marks six years since the genocide that devastated the Rohingya people of Myanmar. Refugees International stands in solidarity with the survivors and recommits to partnering with them in advocacy to rebuild the Rohingya community both in current countries of refuge and toward a time where it is safe to return to their homeland.

Today, more than 1 million Rohingya refugees continue to live in the largest refugee settlement in the world in Bangladesh, facing aid cuts and ongoing restrictions on their freedom of movement and access to education and livelihood opportunities. They also face rising insecurity at the hands of criminal and extremist groups in the camps. Another 600,000 Rohingya remain at risk inside Myanmar, under the same military leaders responsible for genocide. Tens of thousands of other Rohingya have sought safety and a better life in surrounding countries, including India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, but too often face the risks of arbitrary or indefinite detention or forced return to the genocidal authorities from which they fled.

On this sixth day of remembrance, Refugees International calls upon the United States and other countries of influence to sustain support for humanitarian and accountability efforts for Rohingya. We further urge an increase in resettlement of Rohingya to the United States and other third countries. And we call upon other countries of refuge to increase the education and livelihood opportunities that will enable the Rohingya community to thrive. Finally, we urge global action to pressure Myanmar’s military junta, through such actions as further coordinated sanctions and arms embargoes, to create the conditions conducive for the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya to their homeland.”

​​​​​For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Refugees International Vice President for Strategic Outreach Sarah Sheffer at ​[email protected].​​

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