Launch of the 2025-2026 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis,
24 March 2025 

EUMS Statement 

High Commissioner, Director General, Honourable State Minister, Excellencies,

I have an honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

Over seven years after the mass displacement of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh, prospects for a durable solution to the crisis unfortunately remain beyond reach.

The situation in the country of origin of the Rohingya continues to deteriorate, and the ongoing escalation in Rakhine State is posing additional challenges for neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh. The European Union renews its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the military coup and its aftermath. We remain deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence and the evolution towards a protracted conflict in the country. We call on the military to release all detainees, immediately cease all violence, respect fundamental human rights, and take decisive steps to restore Myanmar’s democratic path, respecting the will and democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar. We are closely following the situation at the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh and urge all parties to respect international law and international humanitarian law, especially in relation to the protection of civilians.

The European Union and its Member States remain committed to helping establish the conditions necessary for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar. However, until these conditions are met, supporting the Rohingya refugees in the region, and particularly in Bangladesh, remains essential.

Today, as stated by Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, during her recent visit to Bangladesh, we reaffirm our commitment to support Bangladesh in its generous response to the needs of the refugees and the communities that host them. The cost to Bangladesh and Bangladeshi citizens must be acknowledged and cannot be understated.

The European Union has maintained a consistent level of support over the past seven years. In 2025, the European Union has already allocated over EUR 32 million to support the Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi host communities. These funds are provided via the Joint Response Plan, which we are launching today.

The European Union also supports Rohingya refugees who have fled to other countries in the region, as well as the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar. Our total support for the Rohingya since 2017 equals nearly 1 billion EUR provided together by the EU and its Member States.

As global humanitarian funding continues to face unprecedented strain, we need to keep up our efforts to mobilise additional resources. We need to make the humanitarian response more efficient, and we need to reduce its total cost. We need to encourage the self-reliance of the Rohingya to end their dependence on aid, and to provide them with a more dignified life before they return to Myanmar.

It is more critical than ever to find ways of providing the Rohingya refugees with the basic help they need to sustain a decent life until their return to Myanmar. They will need food, so we will have to find a way to reverse the recently announced ration cuts, or to minimise their impact. They will also need safety – we have seen that hunger breeds violence, and the security situation in the camps is already a concern. As desperation increases, risky boat journeys to try and find a better life in Malaysia or Indonesia are likely to multiply.

We look forward to working closely with the Government of Bangladesh, the international community, and the United Nations to build a more realistic and compassionate response. The UN conference on the Rohingya, taking place on 30 September, will be an opportunity to come together and agree on solutions that enable the Rohingya to meet their basic needs that give them the tools to reintegrate back into their homeland once conditions allow, and that address the concerns of Bangladesh and other host nations in the region.

The Rohingya deserve to be allowed to imagine and prepare for a better future in Myanmar, when they will finally be able to voluntarily, safely, sustainably return with dignity.

Thank you.

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