UN General Assembly's 81st session holds a high-level meeting on the Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh

23 September 2026

A high-level event on the Rohingya was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih said conditions for a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return do not exist at the moment. Nearly 1.2 million Rohingya shelter in Bangladesh, and more than 30,000 children are born in the camps every year. The Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, said the displacement now covers the whole childhood of children born in 2017. Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said his country cannot be expected to carry the responsibility indefinitely. General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman spoke of continuing violence and persecution in Rakhine state and elsewhere in Myanmar. Speakers noted the genocide case The Gambia has brought against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice.