Rohingya People Stranded At Sea

Who are the Rohingya people?:

The Rohingya people are from Myanmar, with most of the people being Muslims. They are considered stateless. The definition of "stateless" is "not considered a national by any state under the operation of its law." Save the Children states that a law in 1982 was passed in Myanmar that denies Rohingya people nationality. The Rohingya people have been victims of discrimination for years. Save the Children also mentions how about 75% of Rohingya babies are born in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. They are currently considered one of the most marginalized groups on the planet. They have limited access to education, jobs, and health services. UNHCR states that due to the genocide in Myanmar in August 2017, about 742,000 Rohingya people fled to Bangladesh. Save the Children also says that over 450,000 of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are children.

Rohingya people left stranded at sea:

Rohingya people are fleeing in many different ways. UNHCR says most had walked through jungles and mountains for multiple days, or many took sea journeys, when leaving Myanmar. Many fled to Bangladesh, but conditions were still bad. UNICEF says that a million refugees were in Cox Bazar in Bangladesh. These refugees are living in congested camps and are in need of humanitarian assistance. Due to these conditions, some chose to leave Bangladesh and go to Malaysia by boat. This led to them being stranded at sea. The New York Times says that at least 161 people, who are mostly Rohingya, have been missing or dead since they began their journeys at sea. CNN reports that the boat has been stranded for weeks and that food and medicine are not available. It was also reported that two children and one woman had died.

The importance:

The Rohingya people have been discriminated against for ages and are suffering. When refugees managed to flee Myanmar, they still had poor living conditions. Many are in chronic poverty and don't have job opportunities, education, or simple health services. Their taking these dangerous sea voyages to flee to a foreign country in hopes of better opportunities is a sign of their disparity. Reuters wrote about how some Rohingya people were afloat for 40 days on their way to Indonesia. One of the people who were on the boat said that she was heading to Indonesia to avoid destitution and find a job. Another said that 200 people were on board and 26 had died on the way. Despite these dangers, many continue to take on these sea voyages in hopes of a better life.

How to help:

Some ways people can help are by providing resources. Many Rohingya people do not have access to things like safe drinking water. Health care is also something Rohingya people cannot access. Those who are able to provide aid can try to volunteer to help Rohingya refugees. Many may not be able to provide resources or aid, but simply spreading awareness can help.