Rohingya refugees crossing a river.
The Rohingya refugee crisis stands as one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time, marked by a history of persecution, violence, and displacement. The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority group who primarily resided in the Buddhist-majority Rakhine state of Myanmar. Denied basic rights and citizenship, they have long been vulnerable to exploitation and violence, making them the world’s largest stateless population.
The crisis escalated in November 2015 when democratic elections were held in Myanmar, but the Rohingya were forbidden from participating as candidates and voters. The situation reached a boiling point in August 2017 when large-scale violence erupted on both sides, leading to the mass exodus of Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh. Entire villages were burned to the ground, and by October 2017, more than 600,000 Rohingya had fled the Rakhine state.
Today, more than 1 million Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar since the 1990s, with nearly 1 million currently residing in Bangladesh. The majority have settled in the Cox’s Bazar region, where camps like Kutupalong and Nayapara have become some of the most densely populated in the world. Conditions in these camps are dire, particularly during the monsoon season, which runs from June to October and increases the risk of disease due to lack of proper shelter, water, and sanitation facilities.
The impact on children is especially devastating, with 52% of all Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh being children. Nearly a quarter of Rohingya children aged 6 months to 5 years in the camps suffer from malnutrition, while resources for emotional support are severely lacking.
In 2023, the Rohingya faced further challenges when Cyclone Mocha struck Bangladesh and Myanmar, impacting 2.3 million people, including 930,000 refugees. Very few shelters have been repaired, exacerbating the already dire living conditions in the camps.
Despite the grim reality, there are ways to help alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya.
Organizations like Mercy Corps and UNICEF are working tirelessly to provide essential support and services to those in need. Mercy Corps is focused on securing clean water, food, and shelter, as well as increasing supplies in Cox’s Bazar. They have also installed solar panels in the camps to provide sustainable energy solutions. UNICEF is providing maternal and newborn healthcare, distributing vaccines, and establishing learning centers to ensure that Rohingya children have access to education and support. By donating to organizations like Mercy Corps and UNICEF, we can make a difference in the lives of the Rohingya.
Listed below are the links to donate to Mercy Corps and UNICEF.
Works Cited
“Rohingya Refugee Crisis Explained.” USA for UNHCR, 23 August 2023, https://www.unrefugees.org/news/rohingya-refugee-crisis-explained/. Accessed 1 March 2024.
“Rohingya Refugee Crisis in Myanmar - What to Know.” Mercy Corps, https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/rohingya-refugee-crisis-facts. Accessed 1 March 2024.
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