In 2015, news of the marginalised Rohingya swept through international media outlets, pictures of the catastrophe were plastered on the front pages of every news website. It was finally revealed to the world the harrowing extent of the discrimination these people faced. The Rohingya people have been described as "amongst the world's least wanted," and "one of the world's most persecuted minorities," and were the subject of a ‘textbook example of ethnic cleansing” as described by the UN.
Rohingya refugees walk on the muddy path after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.(Reuters / Mohammad Ponir Hossain)
The ethnic cleansing of 2016-2017 forced over a million Rohingya to flee Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh, where they continued their journey to parts of southern east Asia, seeking refuge in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Bangladesh is home to Kutupalong, the largest refugee settlement in the current world, with over than 600,000 refugees. On 28 September 2018, during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina claimed there were 1.1 million Rohingya refugees now residing in Bangladesh. An Influx in refugees often results in overcrowding, leading to an increased risk of the transmission of infectious disease. Moreover, many lack access to basic necessities such as education, food, proper sanitation and potable water. Insecure infrastructure means a heightened vulnerability to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, and earthquakes.
However, as of march 2019, Bangladesh had refused to accept any more new Rohingya refugees, this means that the Rohingya refugees will now have to travel further and take much more hazardous journeys in order to seek asylum. Myanmar’s several attempts to repatriate Rohingya refugees have failed miserably. Despite Myanmar agreeing to accept 1,500 new Rohingya each week, “Not a single Rohingya has volunteered to return to Rakhine due to the absence of conducive environment there,” remarks Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque. On hearing Myanmar’s effort to repatriate, many refugees exploded in protest, holding up placards and shouting. "None feels safe to go back now. We cannot force them to go back against their will," Mohammad Abul Kalam, Bangladesh's repatriation commissioner, told AFP news agency.
Rohingya protest planned repatriation at a refugee camp in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Nov. 15, 2018. BenarNews
Furthermore, BBC has found that entire Muslim Rohingya villages have been eradicated, replaced by government buildings and police barracks. During a government tour, the BBC spotted what government facilities on used to be 4 former Rohingya settlements, although officials denied building on top of the settlements. After analysing various satellite images, The Australian Strategic policy Institute estimates that over 40% of Rohingya villages have been completely demolished. The demolition of the Refugee’s communities and livelihoods would mean the loss of their old lives, should they want to return to Myanmar.
The government has still refused guaranteed freedom of movement as well as citizenship form Rohingya ; many still referring to them as illegal immigrants or “Bengalis”.
For most Rohingya refugees, the future is uncertain for they still remain in an incredibly precarious situation. With no safe home to return and the nearest site of refuge becoming increasingly overcrowded, many are taking the leap of faith and risking their lives in search of safety.