Published on: 2026-08-25
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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August 25, 2026 Human Rights
Nine years after the forced displacement of the Rohingya community from Myanmar, their situation continues to deteriorate. A new report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicates a further increase in violence against minorities and violations of their rights.
“Nearly ten years after the horrific events of 2017, the Secretary-General calls once again to draw the world’s attention to the dire situation of the Rohingya people and to intensify efforts [to provide them assistance],” said the statement of the UN chief’s spokesperson.
In August 2017, the Myanmar military carried out a brutal operation against Rohingya Muslims in the western state of Rakhine, forcing more than 740,000 people to flee to Bangladesh, where the vast majority of them still live as refugees.
Violence and human rights violations
The OHCHR published salary covers the period from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026. Its authors note that the human rights situation in Myanmar, especially the condition of minorities, has deteriorated to a new critical level.
Airstrikes, arson, forced displacement of the population, and restrictions on access to aid by the military continue. At the same time, according to the report, both the Myanmar armed forces and the Arakan Army rebels are committing widespread and systematic violations against the Rohingya. Witnesses reported arrests and detentions of Rohingya people attempting to avoid forced recruitment.
The situation of children causes particular concern.
“Children are systematically used as labor: according to eyewitness accounts, children as young as six clear jungles, build structures, and perform heavy and low-skilled work for families from the Rakhine ethnic group. In one case, a child was forced to clear bones and skulls of victims of a mass execution,” the report states.
There have also been cases where girls were married off at a young age in the hope that this would help avoid recruitment.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres once again called for the protection of civilians in accordance with international law. He also expressed concern about the rise of misinformation and hate speech against the Rohingya.
Illegal resource extraction exacerbates the crisis
The UN report also highlights the rapid expansion of the illegal economy that fuels the conflict. This refers, in particular, to illegal mining, drug production, human trafficking, and fraudulent centers.
Of particular concern is the extraction of rare earth elements in the Kachin and Shan states. Satellite images have shown that since 2021, 302 new mining sites have appeared in Kachin – an increase of 149 percent. In Shan, the number of such sites increased from 12 before the military coup to 85 afterwards.
Toxic substances used in mining enter water bodies and agricultural lands. According to the report, local observers note a sharp increase in the number of miscarriages, severe bleeding during pregnancy and childbirth, and other complications linked to exposure to heavy metals and chemicals.
Mine workers also suffer from respiratory diseases, chemical burns, and damage to the kidneys and liver. Women, who are increasingly forced to work in the mining industry due to displacement, poverty, and the forced conscription of men, face an increased risk of sexual violence and harassment.
“This report paints a heartbreaking picture of suffering, deprivation, and cruelty on many levels and across the country,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Call for international action
Guterres thanked Bangladesh and other host countries for providing refuge to refugees and urged states to continue protecting people fleeing Myanmar. He also expressed concern about the increasing number of Rohingya dying at sea and called on countries in the region to cooperate in conducting search and rescue operations and combating human trafficking.
Until conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya are established, the Secretary-General has called on the international community to continue providing them with humanitarian assistance and livelihood opportunities.
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