At least 136,640 Rohingya have fled Myanmar and taken refuge in Bangladesh over the past 11 months, according to the latest monthly report by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The report shows that as of September, the number of new arrivals stood at 133,651, but several thousand more were registered in October. With the latest arrivals, Bangladesh now hosts a total of 1,168,398 registered Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

According to UNHCR, since the beginning of 2024, targeted violence, village burnings, and military crackdowns in Myanmar’s Rakhine State have left thousands of Rohingya dead and displaced many more. Fleeing persecution and destruction, tens of thousands have crossed the border into Bangladesh in search of safety. Biometric registration of new arrivals remains ongoing as of late October.

The report highlights that 52 percent of the refugee population are women and 48 percent men, while 78 percent are women and children. Around 12 percent of refugees face additional vulnerabilities, including physical disabilities, single parenthood, serious health risks, or age-related conditions, requiring extra legal and protection support.

UNHCR further warned that with the intensifying conflict in Rakhine, Bangladesh may face another wave of Rohingya arrivals by the end of 2024. The agency said it is closely monitoring the situation and called for increased humanitarian funding to meet the growing needs of displaced populations.

BOB Post