Rohingyas continue to face grim situation after 7 years of exodus

New Delhi, Aug 24: It marks seven years since the mass exodus of the Rohingya people, the situation has only grown more difficult, with escalating violence and ongoing displacement compounding the suffering of this marginalised community. The crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine State remains one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges in Southeast Asia.

The UN Secretary-General issued a reminder of the ongoing plight of the Rohingya. Since 2017, nearly one million Rohingya have sought refuge in Bangladesh, fleeing military campaigns in their own country that have been widely condemned as ethnic cleansing. Despite international outcry, their prospects for return remain bleak, with the situation in Rakhine State deteriorating rapidly.

The Secretary-General called on all parties in Myanmar to end the violence and protect civilians, urging regional cooperation and further support for host countries like Bangladesh, which continues to bear the brunt of the humanitarian fallout.

The UN Secretary General’s statement highlights the grave challenges faced by the Rohingya, who are not only victims of direct violence but also of systemic discrimination and neglect.

The ongoing conflict in Rakhine, particularly between the military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic insurgent group, has led to widespread abuses.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, both sides have committed serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, abductions, and indiscriminate bombardments.

The humanitarian situation is further exacerbated by torrential monsoon rains, which have displaced hundreds of thousands and made it even harder to deliver much-needed aid.

Several countries including India have issued travel advisories asking their countrymen not to travel or take caution while in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

A severe funding shortfall has hampered the UN’s efforts to address the crisis. The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which aims to assist 5.3 million people across Myanmar, has received only 23% of its required $993 million. This funding gap threatens to leave millions without access to necessities, including food, health care, and clean water.

The international community remains deeply concerned about the potential for renewed atrocities against the Rohingya. The military’s actions in 2017, which drove over 740,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, are currently under investigation by international courts for potential genocide.

Despite this, the Rohingya continue to live in precarious conditions, denied citizenship and basic rights in their native Myanmar and facing hostility from all sides.

Human Rights Watch has also raised alarms about the intensifying violence in Rakhine, warning that the situation bears the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing.

Both the military and the Arakan Army have been accused of using hate speech and committing atrocities to drive people from their homes, further entrenching divisions and fuelling the cycle of violence.