Why are Rohingya refugees still living in a state of “disaster” even after one year?

Meetali Asiwal

Thinker | Posted on 3-Sep-2018

UN has called the Rohingya crisis as “the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis”. After the latest exodus that took place last year in August, due to the military action of Myanmar government, was deemed “inhuman” and akin to “genocide” by almost all international organizations and nations, except China.

One of the greatest example of Ethnic Cleansing, the forced migration of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to Bangladesh was a disaster in itself. It followed the inhumanity in the form of mass rapes, communal violence, alleged abuses, etc., by the military forces of Myanmar, experienced by the ethnic group. Little did they know that they were just fleeing from one ghetto to another.

Bangladesh, though welcoming to these refugees, still after one year is not allowing them to be treated as the main population, in terms of education, paid jobs, and other facilities. The mega camp in Cox’s Baazar of Easterm Bangladesh is where the families of Rohingya Muslims are residing along with their family members up till four generations. According to The Hindu, the impending cyclone season is another matter of concern for the safety and well-being of these refugees.

Sumbul Rizvi, the senior humanitarian coordinator for the Rohingya Refugee Response has appealed the UN for more funds saying, “Even to the naked eye it is clear that we are not just on the brink of disaster, but the disaster is happening around us.” (Source: The Hindu)

According to the latest reports of BBC news:

• The UN Security Council appealed to Myanmar to stop the violence but no sanctions have been imposed.

• Bangladesh plans to build more shelters in the Cox's Bazaar area but also wants to limit their travel to allocated areas.

• Myanmar urged displaced people to find refuge in temporary camps set up in Rakhine state. In November (2017) Bangladesh signed a deal with Myanmar to return hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees, but few details have been released.

• The UK has pledged £59m in aid to support those fleeing to Bangladesh. UK Prime Minister Theresa May also said the military action in Rakhine had to stop. The UK has suspended training courses for the Myanmar military.

So as the reports from various sources point out, the burden of the development of Myanmar still falls on the undeserving shoulders of the minority community which now have nowhere to call home.