By Maung Thein Myint aka Moshor Rof (Bangladesh)
Date: October 26, 2024
Overview
Nearly 1 million predominantly Muslim Rohingya live as refugees in Bangladesh after fleeing persecution in Myanmar. This group includes approximately 740,000 individuals who escaped a brutal counterinsurgency campaign launched by Myanmar’s security forces in 2017, which was marked by mass killings and rapes. In recent weeks, the humanitarian crisis facing Rohingya civilians fleeing Bangladesh and other parts of South Asia has intensified.
Tragedy struck when a motorboat accident in Myanmar’s Palaw Township resulted in several deaths and many missing individuals. The boat, carrying over 70 passengers, was en route from Kyaukkar village to Myeik. Additionally, about 140 Rohingya refugees, stranded on a wooden boat off Indonesia’s coast, faced rejection from local residents, who refused to allow them to disembark. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Arakan Army (AA) has been forcibly recruiting Rohingya youths to serve on the front lines in their conflict against Myanmar’s military.
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar’s Arakan State has worsened, as military operations and AA activities continue to target Rohingya civilians. This has led to killings, arbitrary arrests, forced displacement, and deteriorating access to food, healthcare, and shelter, further exacerbating the dire conditions. Many Rohingya refugees continue to seek safety by crossing the Naf River into Bangladesh, fleeing violence and repression from both the AA and Myanmar’s junta government.
Current Situation
In the past three weeks, many Rohingya civilians have died, with others missing following a motorboat accident in Myanmar’s southern Taninthayi region. Local media reported that at least 70 individuals, including children and students, were aboard the boat when the incident occurred in Palaw Township. While some bodies have been recovered, search efforts are ongoing to locate the missing.
Elsewhere, approximately 140 Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, have been stranded for days on a wooden boat anchored off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province. The local fishing community has refused to allow them to land, citing concerns over potential unrest. “Our community refuses to let them land because of what happened in other places. They have caused unrest to local residents,” said Muhammad Jabal, the chief of the fishing community.
The boat, painted blue, had been drifting near the coast for four to five days, following a two-week journey from Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Tragically, three refugees died during the voyage, and several others have required medical treatment at a government hospital due to their worsening health. A banner at the seaport reads: “The people of South Aceh Regency reject the arrival of Rohingya refugees in the area.”
Additionally, reports from Myanmar indicate that between 2,500 to 3,000 Rohingya youths have been forcibly conscripted by the Arakan Army from Maungdaw and Buthidaung in Arakan State. These youths, used as forced labor, are deployed to the front lines and prohibited from contacting their families, many of whom have already fled to Bangladesh.
The situation in Bangladesh remains equally dire, as over 40,000 Rohingya refugees have fled the worsening conditions in refugee camps. The overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar are grappling with severe resource shortages, which has led to deteriorating health, sanitation, and security conditions. Violence among armed groups within the camps has also escalated, resulting in killings, forced recruitment, and internal displacement within the refugee community.
Call to Action
We call on individuals, organizations, and governments to intensify efforts to support humanitarian initiatives that provide food, healthcare, livelihood assistance, and security for the Rohingya community. It is imperative that Bangladesh’s authorities address the proliferation of armed groups within the refugee camps to ensure the safety of the residents.
While these efforts are essential to meet immediate needs, it is also crucial to develop long-term peace strategies and sustainable solutions for the Rohingya community. This includes fostering conditions that allow them to live with dignity and security, whether in Bangladesh, Myanmar, or other host countries.
Stay Informed
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For further information, visit our website at www.crric.org or email us at info@crric.org. You can also reach out to our office at 520 Global College, University of Winnipeg, MB, CAanada. Together, we can work towards a brighter future for those in need.