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Myanmar Says 309,000 Rohingya Eligible for Return, Cites Rakhine Security
Myanmar said 308,797 people were verified from 828,824 names, but return will wait until security in Rakhine State improves.
Over the weekend, Myanmar's foreign ministry verified nearly 309,000 displaced people in Bangladesh as former Rakhine State residents, out of 828,824 names submitted as of July 31, 2026.
According to the United Nations, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2017 following a crackdown by Myanmar security forces, with many continuing to flee via uncertain routes.
Officials identified 4,241 individuals on the repatriation list as involved in terrorist activities, while another 113,507 could not be verified by Myanmar authorities.
Repatriation will proceed only after security conditions in Rakhine State improve, as Myanmar's military fights the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group seeking greater autonomy for the region.
Previous repatriation arrangements in 2018 and 2019 resulted in no returnees despite bilateral preparations, illustrating the historical difficulty Myanmar faces in facilitating returns.
The Myanmar government has confirmed that the more than 309,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladeshi camps are former residents of Rakhine State, stating that repatriation will only begin when the security situation in the area improves.