The publication takes a broader look at the crisis as it enters its tenth year—connecting humanitarian needs with protection, resilience, livelihoods, local leadership, host-community pressures and the search for sustainable solutions. The five human stories bring this wider narrative to life:
- Walking Toward Independence
- Growing More Than Vegetables
- Steering Youth Away from Harm
- Stitching Hope, Building Independence
- Turning Sunlight into Water Security
Together, these stories demonstrate that even in prolonged displacement, people are building skills, resilience, dignity and solutions. They also show why sustained investment is essential to protect and scale what is working.
As the Rohingya crisis approaches its tenth year, Bangladesh finds itself at an inflection point between an extraordinary record of humanitarian responsibility. For nearly a decade, we have demonstrated extraordinary humanitarian solidarity by providing shelter, protection and essential assistance to more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas. This responsibility has been shouldered despite Bangladesh’s own developmental priorities, demographic pressures, limited land and resource constraints. Yet, a fundamental question can no longer be deferred: how do we move from managing a protracted humanitarian emergency to creating the conditions for a just, durable and sustainable solution?
The humanitarian response remains indispensable. Declining international funding, however, is placing increasing pressure on an already stretched system. The reduced requirements of the 2026 Joint Response Plan should not be interpreted as a reduction in humanitarian needs. Food assistance, healthcare, nutrition, education, WASH services, protection and other essential interventions remain lifelines for the Rohingya population. Any significant funding gap could have serious humanitarian, socioeconomic and security consequences, affecting not only the displaced population but also the host communities of Cox’s Bazar.