Stories from Cox's Bazar · Bangladesh

Rohingya populations are facing increased displacement due to fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army. Civilians are caught in the crossfire of the conflict seeking independence for Rakhine State. Many displaced individuals are moving toward the Bangladesh border. Many displaced individuals are being housed in deteriorating former school buildings. Others are living outdoors in makeshift shelters with corrugated metal roofs on beaches. Displaced populations are currently dependent on support from NGOs and UN agencies including the UNHCR and IOM.

The Rohingya, originally from Myanmar, are living under difficult conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh and Indonesia. They face oppression and persecution in Myanmar, where their citizenship has been revoked and they are not officially recognized as an ethnic minority. In addition to military persecution, the Arakan Army, fighting for an independent Rakhine state, also does not recognize the Rohingya. In Malaysia and Indonesia, initial solidarity has shifted to skepticism and rejection. Rohingya refugees in Indonesia are housed in former schools, with organizations like UNHCR and IOM providing support as they lack official recognition. Many hope for asylum in a third country, with young Rohingya seeking vocational training and employment, which is currently unlikely for most.