Responding to the Rohingya Crisis: A Call for Compassion and Support

The dire situation facing nearly one million Rohingya individuals underscores the urgency of the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, marking it as one of the most rapidly escalating refugee emergencies globally. Our collective moral obligation compels us to extend our support and aid to our Rohingya brothers and sisters enduring severe persecution.

For decades, the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority from the Rakhine state in Myanmar (formerly Burma), have faced relentless persecution by Myanmar authorities. This long-standing oppression intensified dramatically in 2017 when Myanmar’s military launched a brutal campaign characterized by Amnesty International as involving widespread and systematic acts of murder, rape, and arson. These heinous actions aimed to eradicate the Rohingya or compel them to flee Myanmar, with reports detailing the execution of hundreds and the complete destruction of entire villages.

The persecution of the Rohingya by the predominantly Buddhist Burmese population stems from deep-seated prejudices against their Muslim identity, language, and culture, resulting in restricted access to basic amenities, education, and the outright denial of Myanmar citizenship. This effectively renders the Rohingya stateless. The recent atrocities have prompted the United Nations to describe the military offensive as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing,” with some global leaders denouncing it as “genocide.” Despite the gravity of the crisis, the plight of the Rohingya has not garnered the necessary global attention or response. However, Crisis Aid is actively providing essential assistance on the ground, including food parcels, shelters, and hygiene kits, to address the immediate needs of those affected by this devastating crisis.

The violence has forced over 600,000 Rohingyas to escape Myanmar, swelling the ranks of refugees in neighbouring Bangladesh to a staggering one million. The journey to safety has been perilous and fatal for many, with numerous reports of drownings, attacks, and landmine injuries in the dense forests along the border.

Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, now home to one of the largest Rohingya refugee camps, presents dire living conditions. Bangladesh, grappling with its own challenges of poverty, initially welcomed the refugees with open arms. However, as the refugee numbers have swelled, the strain on resources has led to growing resentment between the local population and the refugees.

Our UK-based Crisis Aid team was promptly on the scene to provide emergency aid, encountering conditions in Cox’s Bazar that rank among the worst seen in refugee camps worldwide. The makeshift shelters, constructed from tarpaulins, plastic sheets, and bamboo, are inadequate, and the prevalence of raw sewage and lack of clean water expose the camp’s residents to life-threatening diseases such as cholera.

Our long-term commitment to the Rohingya includes installing water pumps and wells to ensure access to clean water, a critical step towards improving living conditions within the camps. The success of these initiatives, however, hinges on the generosity of our donors. Your support enables us to continue our vital work with one of the world’s most persecuted communities, who are also eligible for zakat contributions. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of the Rohingya people, offering hope and relief in their time of desperate need.