The Rohingya crisis, once seen as a tragedy contained within Myanmar, has now spilled across borders, destabilizing the wider region. Intensified fighting in Rakhine State has forced thousands of Rohingya to flee, with many resorting to perilous sea journeys as land routes are sealed. Bangladesh, already hosting nearly a million refugees, faces severe funding cuts and rising malnutrition, while new arrivals are increasingly detained or stranded.

Desperation is fueling the revival of trafficking networks, with boats carrying Rohingya intercepted across the Bay of Bengal and survivors facing detention or exploitation. Regional fatigue has set in, as countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand harden their stances, pushing refugees from one jurisdiction to another. The crisis is now a regional security emergency, with risks of trafficking, extremism, and organized crime rising.

Tensions between neighboring states are escalating, and attempts at quiet diplomacy have yielded little progress. The article calls for a shift in mindset, urging coordinated, multilateral action and renewed humanitarian support, especially from Arab and Muslim nations. Without collective intervention, the crisis threatens to become a protracted regional catastrophe, with consequences far beyond Southeast Asia.