Disability and the Rohingya Displacement Crisis: A Humanitarian Priority

Abstract

The United Nations estimates that close to 900,000 Rohingya refugees have fled violence and persecution in Myanmar and now live within displacement camps in Bangladesh. 1 United Nations (UN) NewsDangers persist for nearly a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: WHO. https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1009112 Google Scholar The Rohingya are among the world’s most persecuted population because even though they have lived in the Rakhine State of Myanmar for centuries, they are denied citizenship under law. 2 Oxfam New Zealand. Rohingya refugees: finding hope amongst the hopelessness. https://www.oxfam.org.nz/blogs/2018/05/22/rohingya-refugees-finding-hope-amongst-hopelessness Google Scholar , 3 Milton A.H. Rahman M. Hussain S. et al. Trapped in statelessness: Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14: E942 Crossref PubMed Scopus (70) Google Scholar Given their precarious status they began a gradual exodus from Myanmar (then known as Burma) to Bangladesh in the 1970s 4 BBC NewsMyanmar Rohingya: what you need to know about the crisis. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41566561 Google Scholar ; however, the pace of this movement changed rapidly on August 25, 2017, as violence erupted within Myanmar targeting the Rohingya. Overnight, tens of thousands fled toward Bangladesh, where they are now precariously posted in temporary shelters on the edge of Cox’s Bazaar, and the deforested surrounding hillsides. The lethal concoction of rapid displacement of people, wedged into close quarters in a location not designed for this population bulge, has created a complex humanitarian predicament. 5 Cousins S. “People will die” as monsoon approaches Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. BMJ. 2018; 361: k2040 Crossref PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar , 6 Friedrich M.J. High rates of violent death among Rohingya refugees. JAMA. 2018; 319: 648 Google Scholar Add into the dynamic seasonal monsoon rains and an acutely underfunded humanitarian agenda, and the result is the anchoring of a humanitarian catastrophe that holds the potential to politically destabilize the region. 7 Dhaka Tribune. UNICEF: 55,000 Rohingya children at risk of floods, landslides during monsoon. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2018/05/02/unicef-55000-rohingya-children-at-risk-of-floods-landslides-during-monsoon Google Scholar , 8 Atiyeh B.S. Gunn S.W.A. Refugee camps, fire disasters, and burn injuries. Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2017; 30: 214-217 PubMed Google Scholar , 9 Beyrer C. Kamarulzaman A. Ethnic cleansing in Myanmar: the Rohingya crisis and human rights. Lancet. 2017; 390: 1570-1573 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar , 10 Reuters. UN chief warns Myanmar violence could destabilize region. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rohingya-un/u-n-chief-warns-myanmar-violence-could-destabilize-region-idUSKCN1BG2KC Google Scholar