Myanmar Rohingya: the struggle for survival and dignity
Three years ago Myanmar’s army started the genocide of the Rohingya community, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and embark on a dangerous journey to the border with Bangladesh. Now, many of them live in inhumane conditions, crammed in refugee camps, where the outbreak of COVID-19 can have fatal consequences. It is imperative that, in these challenging times, the international community reinforces response efforts to protect the most vulnerable and stop the situation from deteriorating.
Who are the Rohingya people
The Rohingya people are one of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities and as the UN’s Secretary General, António Guterres once said they ‘have always been one of, if not the, most discriminated people in the world, without any recognition of the most basic rights’. Before the genocide in 2017 there were about 1.3 million Rohingya living in Myanmar, mainly in its western state called Rakhine. Myanmar Nationality Law does not recognise them as one of the legal ethnic groups, thus denying them citizenship and depriving them of access to education and jobs. Even if Rohingya children are born abroad, they remain stateless. Myanmar is a principally Buddhist state and, despite the Rohingya community residing in the country for centuries, its government sees them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Rohingya follow Islam and have their own language and distinct culture. They dress in traditional clothing, and women use henna paste as a form of makeup to decorate their bodies, while men put it on their beards to colour them. Their language exists mainly in spoken form without an internationally recognized written script. Rohingya people have a strong cultural identity, hence why the systematic oppression and violence committed by Myanmar’s government has led to a serious identity crisis for the whole Rohingya ethnic group.
For decades the Rohingya have had to face discrimination and hostility. In August 2017, the Myanmar government’s brutality reached its peak and the state launched a crackdown forcing around 745,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. During what can be described as an ethnic cleansing campaign, Myanmar’s military would burn down villages whilst committing human rights violations which included rape, abduction, torture, and infanticide. In November 2017, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a deal supposed to ensure that, within two years, Rohingya refugees could safely go back to Rakhine. According to the agreement, the process of repatriation would start by the end of the year and would cover all of the Rohingya people who had been displaced as a result of Myanmar’s military offensive. Nevertheless, for the last three years, Myanmar has been ignoring the deal. Even if Myanmar finally agreed to accept Rohingya back on its territory, most of them know that if they went back, every day would be a fight for survival and dignity, and their lives would be filled with unceasing abuse.
What’s happening to the Rohingya now
The Rohingya arrived at the border with Bangladesh in hopes of finding protection and a fresh start, but in fact faced the harsh reality of finding themselves stuck in the overcrowded refugee camp of Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar. The camp is considered to be the world’s largest refugee settlement. It is so densely populated that there are only 10.7 square metres per person. Every year during the monsoon season the camp becomes a dangerous place to live because heavy winds and rains damage refugees’ shelters and put their lives at risk. People living in the camp are completely dependant on international aid and the access to medication that provides, all in a location where basic sanitation is very limited.
Those who stayed in Myanmar are kept separated from society and, as reported by Amnesty International, live ‘in a dehumanising system of apartheid’. It is forbidden for them to move freely around the state, to gather in groups, or to go to the hospital. The access to food and clean water in the areas where they live is so poor that the majority of Rohingyas are barely surviving. Rakhine state, where the refugees once called home, is now ruled by rebel forces and the majority of houses are completely destroyed. Myanmar’s government has banned humanitarian organisations, including the UN, from accessing the area so no work can be done to prepare the area for the potential return of refugees from Bangladesh.
New struggles amid COVID-19 pandemic
The unsanitary conditions in Kutupalong not only make people particularly vulnerable to diseases but also make it extremely challenging to follow guidelines allowing to stop the spread of the current pandemic. As of July 31, there are 3,361 cases of COVID-19 in Cox’s Bazar. Social distancing in the camp is impossible, and so is frequent hand washing and keeping good personal hygiene. Communal toilets are shared by a large number of people, there is practically no soap, and access to water is scarce. There are no masks or gloves, and each house is shared by at least ten people.
Overcrowding increases the risk of spreading the virus and since many refugees have underlying medical conditions, they are at higher risk of severe reaction in the case of contracting coronavirus. It is difficult to state how many cases there actually are in the camp as testing is not being done on a large enough scale. Moreover, out of fear of being sent into quarantine away from the camp, and thus being separated from their families, many refugees will not seek medical help even if they show symptoms. Education and funding are other serious concerns. Many refugees lack the understanding of the situation and of how easily the virus can spread if one does not take any preventative measures. UN agencies have received some funds to help contain the virus in refugee camps but it is not enough to deal with the problem in the area where living conditions are this extreme and people also need assistance with so many other issues.
The international community must provide support and training for the refugee volunteers who want to serve their community, spread awareness amongst refugees by sharing information about COVID-19, build trust between refugees and health workers, and continue humanitarian missions aiming to improve general conditions in refugee camps. The world has to show Rohingya that they have not been forgotten.
