Understanding Rohingya’s Struggle
A General Overview
In 1962, General Ne Win imprisoned former prime minister, U Nu, overthrowing the elected government. Following this, he created the Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma, beginning decades of military rule and armed forces in the country. In 1974, the council passed the Emergency Immigration Act that limited the rights of “foreigners” and targeted the Rohingya. Furthermore, in 1989, Citizenship Scrutiny Cards were mandated to keep living in the country, except the Rohingya were never given any. Eventually, in 2015, the Rohingya were stripped of their identification, and were written off as immigrants.
The Rohingya continue to be denied their rights in political office, voting, and childbirth and are forced to undergo manual labor and relocation. If they refuse or show any form of retaliation, they are raped, tortured, and in some cases, killed. Numbers as high as 34,000 show the catastrophic amount of Rohingya thrown into fires, while 114,000 Rohingya have reported they were beaten, according to a report from OIDA, “Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience”. The horrific overall amount of Rohingya women and girls raped is 18,000. Mothers have witnessed their babies thrown into fires. The violence does not stop there, as the military is moving North, destroying hundreds of Rohingya villages. Thousands of houses, homes, belonging to innocent people are being demolished in the name of “retaliation” but this is a genocide. Over 25,000 Rohingya lives have been claimed by the military, 1,100,000 refugees forced to leave their homes, and more than 600,000 are still living in Myanmar under extreme, harsh conditions, their living supplies currently being cut off by the government. They are not being given the substantial amount of necessities to live.
What exactly is the Rohingya Crisis?
The Rohingya Crisis refers to the ongoing and catastrophic humanitarian and human rights difficulties affecting Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority. The Rohingya people of Rakhine State have been denied citizenship on a systematic basis since the Citizenship Law was passed in 1982, leaving them stateless. Tensions between the Rohingya and the Myanmar government escalated in the early twenty-first century, reaching a crisis point in 2017, when a harsh military operation provoked by alleged militant assaults resulted in widespread violence, displacement, and deaths. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were forced to escape to bordering Bangladesh, resulting in one of the world's biggest refugee crises. The situation has sparked worldwide outrage and criticism for suspected human rights violations and ethnic cleansing.
How has the Rohingyans being stateless affected them?
The Rohingya are stateless primarily because Myanmar implemented the Citizenship Law in 1982. This law created three citizenship classifications: citizen, associate citizen, and naturalized citizen, none of which included the Rohingya ethnic minority. The Myanmar government does not recognize the Rohingya as an established ethnic group, simply denying them citizenship.
Historically, the Rohingya suffered from prejudice and marginalization in Myanmar, and their lack of citizenship has led to significant limits on their rights and access to essential services. The issue of statelessness continues to create an endless cycle of vulnerability, limiting their capacity to move freely, receive an education, and access healthcare. The denial of citizenship has played a critical role in the complicated and enduring Rohingya crisis, growing their fragile status and leading to extensive human rights violations.
What Triggered the Escalade in 2017?
The escalation in 2017 was provoked by a series of incidents in Myanmar's Rakhine State. In August 2017, Rohingya terrorists attacked police posts, prompting a harsh response from Myanmar's military. The military campaign was marked by numerous crimes, such as as deaths, sexual abuse, and the burning of Rohingya communities. The events of 2017 sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with charges of ethnic cleansing and genocide leveled. The Rohingya crisis, which had already become catastrophic, reached a tipping point in this era, prompting increasing awareness and efforts to address the Rohingya population's humanitarian and human rights concerns.
How Many Refugees are there from Rohingya?
At the end of 2020, the UNHCR estimated that there were around 1.1 million refugees caused by the Rohingya Crisis. This made it the world's fourth biggest refugee population. The vast majority of refugees and others seeking safety dwell in Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.
How the International Community has Reacted?
The global response to the Rohingya crisis has included significant condemnation of Myanmar for human rights violations against the Rohingya people. In 2019, the International Criminal Court (ICC) ordered an inquiry into crimes against humanity. Moreover, the majority of governments, international organizations, and the United Nations have voiced serious concern, urging for a stop to violence and punishment for those responsible. However, efforts to provide actual support for the Rohingya people have been limited due to conflicting approaches proposed by members of the United Nations. Some countries such as Canada, the UK, and the US have placed sanctions and arms restrictions against Myanmar's military authorities. Additionally, the US offered $87 million dollars in humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in December 2023. However, countries such as India have even taken steps to deport Rohingyan Refugees, a clear violation of Non-Refoulement where it is stated that refugees cannot be deported to regions where they may be subject to persecution. Diplomatic attempts have been undertaken, but finding a comprehensive and long-term solution remains difficult. The international community's involvement emphasizes the gravity of the Rohingya situation and recognizes the necessity for a united response. There will be no further advancements in the rights of the Rohingya unless we push government officials to start taking this issue more seriously and actively working to fight against these injustices.
Why Help Aid Groups?
Humanitarian attempts and organizations are critical to tackling the Rohingya situation. They give critical assistance, such as food, shelter, and healthcare, to meet emergency needs. Healthcare services address illnesses and malnutrition, whilst educational initiatives concentrate on children's development. Protection programs protect vulnerable populations, while psychological support helps people deal with trauma. Advocacy and awareness campaigns increase worldwide awareness, gather support, and advocate for long-term solutions. Humanitarian groups work with local authorities to guarantee effective relief distribution. These efforts seek to ease immediate suffering and provide long-term solutions for the Rohingya, necessitating ongoing international assistance.
How Can We Help?
By clicking on the donate button at the end of this article, you will be redirected to the Beyond The Waters GoFundMe. All donations this month will go to Rohingya refugees through BRAC USA, which has been serving Cox's Bazar communities for nearly four decades and is now the largest responder to the Rohingya refugee crisis. Since August 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya have fled violence in Myanmar to Bangladesh, with nearly 900,000 now living in refugee settlements in Cox's Bazar, more than half being children. 965,467 Rohingya refugees have been documented as of September 2023. BRAC operates 800 learning camps in Cox’s Bazar, where nearly 700,000 children learn and play and they have 26 encampments. These donations provide vital support, including food, water, shelter, sanitation, healthcare, education, and protection, to families in crisis. They will also be used to fund learning centers and schools.
