Rohingya Still Barred from Repatriation in Arakan

In Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships of Arakan State, life is slowly returning to normal for some. With the conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar’s military junta now over, displaced families from various ethnic groups are returning home. But for the Rohingya, this return remains a distant dream.

A Rohingya father displaced from Maungdaw shared his heartbreak with Rvsion, “We see others returning to their homes, rebuilding their lives. But for us, the doors remain shut. It feels like we’re not considered human.”

For years, Rohingya families have languished in overcrowded displacement camps, living in flimsy shelters with barely enough to survive. Children are growing up without proper education, and elderly parents suffer without medical care. For these families, returning to their villages means more than just reclaiming homes it’s about reclaiming dignity and hope. A Rohingya teacher from Buthidaung described their daily struggles: “The camps are unbearable. We lack food, clean water, and even basic healthcare. The war may be over, but for us, the suffering continues. When will we be allowed to live like others?”

While the Arakan Army has facilitated the return of other ethnic communities, the Rohingya remain excluded. This glaring injustice has deepened the sense of alienation among the displaced Rohingya, who feel forgotten by those in power. One elder from the community, who has spent years in a camp, said: “We have suffered enough. We want to go home, plant our crops, and rebuild our lives. How can the AA speak of justice while keeping us in these inhumane conditions?”

The community is now appealing to the AA and its political wing, the ULA, to honor their promises of equality. Many have urged the leadership to ensure that the Rohingya, like everyone else, are given the right to return to their ancestral lands.

The exclusion of the Rohingya raises difficult questions about the AA’s commitment to fairness. For the families trapped in camps, it is a bitter reminder that their struggle for recognition and rights is far from over.

International organizations and human rights defenders are closely watching these developments, as the Rohingya people continue to fight for their rightful place in their homeland.

Rohingya Vision News