ASEAN must act now to ease Rohingya crisis

daily observer 
Saturday, 6 September, 2025 

The Asian Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has once again sounded the alarm on the escalating crisis facing Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

At a press briefing held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, following a meeting with Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, APHR called on ASEAN to immediately establish a dedicated humanitarian fund to address the dire needs of over 1.3 million refugees stranded in Cox's Bazar.

For too long, ASEAN has remained on the sidelines while the Rohingya crisis spirals further into a humanitarian disaster. Despite being raised by APHR as early as 2018, ASEAN has yet to treat the Rohingya tragedy as a regional responsibility-even though Myanmar, where the crisis originated, is one of its own member states.

The urgency of the situation cannot be underestimated. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that it may be forced to suspend food rations in the camps by the end of November 2025 due to a staggering funding shortfall of $17 million per month.

Without immediate international and regional support, mass starvation looms. This is not merely a humanitarian concern-it is a looming security threat. Hunger breeds desperation and desperation can quickly morph into unrest, crime and radicalisation.

 
APHR's three-point demand is both reasonable and essential: First, the establishment of an ASEAN Humanitarian Fund; second, access to recognised education and vocational training for Rohingya children and youth; and third, coordinated efforts with Bangladesh and the global community for a long-term solution.

ASEAN cannot afford to ignore the destabilising consequences of inaction. As APHR co-chair Charles Santiago aptly noted, a continued passive stance will allow illicit activities such as human trafficking, arms trading, and drug smuggling to take root in the camps-posing a serious threat to regional stability.

Most importantly, the consequences of neglect will not be confined to Bangladesh-they will ripple across Southeast Asia.

Moreover, education and skills development must be prioritised. As APHR member Raoul Manuel highlighted, an entire generation of Rohingya youth remains trapped in limbo, denied the right to accredited education or vocational training. This not only crushes hope for future self-reliance but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

ASEAN must demonstrate leadership and humanity. The Rohingyas are from Myanmar, an ASEAN member; therefore, the bloc has both a moral and legal obligation to act. A unified, regional response is overdue. Establishing a humanitarian fund is a concrete first step. The time for statements has passed-now is the time for action.

 

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