Stranded, Stateless, Unwanted - The Rohingya's Harrowing Journey

7th Edition

For years, Buddhist-majority Myanmar has struggled to deal with a deeply rooted hatred toward the Rohingya in the western Rakhine State.

The refugee emergency unfolded in late August, — after an attack on state security forces by Rohingya insurgents — triggering a brutal military crackdown that has forced more than half of the country’s 1.1 million population to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, creating the fastest cross-border exodus ever witnessed, with over 700,000 new arrivals. Thousands of children who are travelling alone are at serious risk of trafficking and exploitation. Many traumatized refugees arrived telling stories of horror — alleging rape, killings and the burning of hundreds of villages, which have been well documented by the media, along with the United Nations and various human rights groups. The government of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, still refuses to address any of these atrocities. Human rights organizations across the world, including a recent visit by three female Nobel laureates, state that Aung San Suu Kyi cannot avoid responsibility, calling the violence “genocide.” This further clarifies the discrimination and persecution against the Rohingya community as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, which are clear crimes against humanity.

Paula Bronstein’s many nominations and awards span decades and represent a lifetime of phenomenal documentary photography. Her work reflects the eye of a dedicated humanitarian photographer. She is the author of the award winning photography book, “Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear.” For more than 15 years, Paula worked as a staff photographer for a variety of American newspapers. She based herself in Bangkok, working for Getty Images News as a staff photographer from 2002-2013. Paula is currently working as a freelance photographer; her images have been published globally.

www.paulaphoto.com
@pbbphoto

PALONG KHALI, BANGLADESH - OCTOBER 9: Thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing from Myanmar walk along a muddy rice field after crossing the border in Palong Khali, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. For years Buddhist majority Myanmar has struggled to deal with a deeply rooted hatred towards the Rohingya in western Rakhine state. The Muslim ethnic minority were always considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and denied the rights of citizenship. According to Human Rights Watch, the 1982 laws "effectively deny to the Rohingya the possibility of acquiring a nationality ”. Myanmar’s government also enforced severe restrictions on freedom of movement, state education and civil service jobs and health care. The refugee emergency unfolded in late August after an attack on state security forces by Rohingya insurgents, triggering a brutal military crackdown that has forced more than half of the country’s 1.1 million population fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh creating the fastest cross-border exodus ever witnessed with over 655,000 new arrivals. Many traumatized refugees arrived telling stories of horror alleging rape, killings and the burning of hundreds of villages, which have been well documented by the media, along with the U.N and various human rights groups.

PALONG KHALI, BANGLADESH - OCTOBER 9: Thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing from Myanmar walk along a muddy rice field after crossing the border in Palong Khali, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. For years Buddhist majority Myanmar has struggled to deal with a deeply rooted hatred towards the Rohingya in western Rakhine state. The Muslim ethnic minority were always considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and denied the rights of citizenship. According to Human Rights Watch, the 1982 laws "effectively deny to the Rohingya the possibility of acquiring a nationality ”. Myanmar’s government also enforced severe restrictions on freedom of movement, state education and civil service jobs and health care. The refugee emergency unfolded in late August after an attack on state security forces by Rohingya insurgents, triggering a brutal military crackdown that has forced more than half of the country’s 1.1 million population fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh creating the fastest cross-border exodus ever witnessed with over 655,000 new arrivals. Many traumatized refugees arrived telling stories of horror alleging rape, killings and the burning of hundreds of villages, which have been well documented by the media, along with the U.N and various human rights groups.
SHAH PORIR DWIP, BANGLADESH - SEPTEMBER 30: Boats full of people continue to arrive along the shores of the Naf river as Rohingya come in the safety of darkness September 30, on Shah Porir Dwip island, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Over a half a million Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August during the outbreak of violence in Rakhine state causing a humanitarian crisis in the region with continued challenges for aid agencies.

SHAH PORIR DWIP, BANGLADESH - SEPTEMBER 30: Boats full of people continue to arrive along the shores of the Naf river as Rohingya come in the safety of darkness September 30, on Shah Porir Dwip island, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Over a half a million Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August during the outbreak of violence in Rakhine state causing a humanitarian crisis in the region with continued challenges for aid agencies.
PALONG KHALI, BANGLADESH - OCTOBER 16: A Rohingya girl cries, traumatized after days of walking, with little sleep, as refugees fleeing from Myanmar wait in the hot sun on a muddy rice field near Palang Khali, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Well over 750,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August during the outbreak of violence in Rakhine state causing a humanitarian crisis in the region with continued challenges for aid agencies.

PALONG KHALI, BANGLADESH - OCTOBER 16: A Rohingya girl cries, traumatized after days of walking, with little sleep, as refugees fleeing from Myanmar wait in the hot sun on a muddy rice field near Palang Khali, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Well over 750,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August during the outbreak of violence in Rakhine state causing a humanitarian crisis in the region with continued challenges for aid agencies.
TANKHALI, BANGLADESH- SEPTEMBER 15 Desperate Rohingya grab for aid handouts of clothing and food on September 15 in Tankhali, Bangladesh. Nearly 655,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August during the outbreak of violence in the Rakhine state as recent satellite images released by Amnesty International provided evidence that security forces were trying to push the minority Muslim group out of the country.

TANKHALI, BANGLADESH- SEPTEMBER 15 Desperate Rohingya grab for aid handouts of clothing and food on September 15 in Tankhali, Bangladesh. Nearly 655,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh since late August during the outbreak of violence in the Rakhine state as recent satellite images released by Amnesty International provided evidence that security forces were trying to push the minority Muslim group out of the country.
Rohingya cross a bamboo bridge over a stream as the sun sets October 13, inside the sprawling Kutuplaong refugee camp. The refugee emergency unfolded in late August after an attack on state security forces by Rohingya insurgents, triggering a brutal military crackdown that has forced more than half of the country’s 1.1 million population fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh creating the fastest cross-border exodus ever witnessed with over 655,000 new arrivals.

Rohingya cross a bamboo bridge over a stream as the sun sets October 13, inside the sprawling Kutuplaong refugee camp. The refugee emergency unfolded in late August after an attack on state security forces by Rohingya insurgents, triggering a brutal military crackdown that has forced more than half of the country’s 1.1 million population fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh creating the fastest cross-border exodus ever witnessed with over 655,000 new arrivals.

Rohingya cross a bamboo bridge over a stream as the sun sets October 13, inside the sprawling Kutuplaong refugee camp. The refugee emergency unfolded in late August after an attack on state security forces by Rohingya insurgents, triggering a brutal military crackdown that has forced more than half of the country’s 1.1 million population fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh creating the fastest cross-border exodus ever witnessed with over 655,000 new arrivals.

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