Hunger, Violence, and Aid Cuts Push Myanmar’s Rohingya into Deeper Crisis
Myanmar’s Rohingya minority and other vulnerable communities face worsening hunger and insecurity as conflict, aid restrictions, and dwindling international support converge to create what aid groups call a looming humanitarian catastrophe.
According to Reuters, Rakhine State is at the epicenter of the crisis, where more than 100,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition and fewer than 2 percent have access to treatment. Humanitarian convoys have been blocked outside Sittwe by military restrictions, further limiting food distribution. Nationwide, the UN World Food Programme estimates that over 16 million people are now acutely food insecure, with more than 540,000 children projected to suffer from severe malnutrition in 2025 — a 26 percent increase from last year.
The situation has sparked urgent appeals from Rohingya leaders at the UN General Assembly, where they pleaded for an end to violence and accountability for ongoing abuses. As reported by ABC News, Rohingya representatives urged the international community to halt killings, forced repatriations, and the reduction of humanitarian assistance. Al Jazeera noted that during the New York gathering, Rohingya speakers asked bluntly, “Where is the justice?” while criticizing the sharp decline in global attention and aid.
Background investigations have highlighted a pattern of persecution. A UN-backed inquiry, cited by Reuters, recently documented how Myanmar’s military systematically razed Rohingya villages during the 2017 crackdown, replacing homes and farmland with security outposts. Human rights groups say these findings underscore the urgent need for accountability, as similar abuses persist under current conditions.
The regional impact is also growing. Reuters reported that Bangladesh, which hosts over one million Rohingya refugees in overcrowded camps, has warned of a “catastrophic” aid crisis if funding and international support continue to dwindle. Aid agencies caution that hunger and instability in both Myanmar and Bangladesh risk fueling further displacement and regional insecurity.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, aid organizations, rights groups, and Rohingya representatives continue to press for urgent international intervention to restore aid, protect vulnerable populations, and hold perpetrators accountable for ongoing atrocities.
