Rohingya New Arrival Report on Struggles, Persecution, Hardship and Survivals; a journey Toward Hope and Safety

By; Mohammed Aziz @M. Azeezibn Usuf

The ongoing conflicts between Arakan (AA) and Military in Myanmar’s Arakan State has become a second wave of genocide, brutal violence against humanity, displacing thousand of the Rohingya people, and intense violence to Rohingya community has led to the arrival of many individuals in Bangladesh and seeking refuge. By gathering information from new arrivals, through in person interviews and semi-structured survey Google form, the report aims to highlight the experiences of the new arrivals, focusing on authentic factors, the causes of their displacement, the challenges they have faced during their journey, and their current living conditions in the refugee camps of Bangladesh.

The primary reason for leaving the homeland and taking refuge in neighboring countries, particularly in Bangladesh, was due to the intense conflicts between Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar Military Council, and rapidly commiting crime and fighting in Rohingya residents’ sides in Maungdaw, township in Myanmar. Many of the victims described their lives were filled with full of fear, uncertainties, constant threats of drone attacks, boom and artillery shelling above them. One respondent, Mohammed Nur, 27-years-old man from Maungdaw, described how daily life had become difficult and unbearable due to the violence, with continuous bombardment and air strikes, made their survivals impossible in Myanmar to live, as the safety concerns of his family of risk. The decisions to leave were influenced by the imminent danger.

The ongoing conflicts between the military and Arakan Army (AA) has severely affected the Rohingya community who were living near military target points. “Every night and day, we heard the drones sounds flying above us,” said by Mohammed Nayeem, a 19-year-old youth Myo Ma Ka Nyin Tan, Maungdaw. The shootings of guns, drones, heavy artillery shelling, and often clashes inside the region made their lives unbearable. Many of the survivors during conducting interviews described their lives of living in dangers, threats, uncertainties, wondering if they would survive another day. The routines of the new arrivals were dislocated to unfamiliar places due to the threatening of their safety and were struggling to get to Bangladesh Border.

Fleeing to Bangladesh, or other countries and leaving the beloved motherland was not a just simple decision, it was a matter of survival. The journey to Bangladesh was danger, perilous and fraught with immerse challenges. One of the most difficulty obstacles faced by the new arrivals during their journey was the unknown terrain. “the journey took us days to cross the border,” shared by Nur Alam, a 65-year-old new arrival from Maungdaw. “We had to move under cover, avoiding the military patrols. There was no food, and no clean water. We just wanted to make it safely.” Many of the new arrivals reported walking for days, without any sort of assistance on the way, enduring starvation and over tiredness as they made their way to Bangladesh. Sometimes, during the border-crossing, people faced significant barrier due to the presence of military forces in the the border side. Many Interviewees described how the Myanmar military would sometimes prevent people from trying to cross into Bangladesh, with interrogation and threats. Despite the threats and dangers faced on their way, they hardly managed to crossed the border with the hope of safety place.

In Bangladesh, the challenges yet did not end. New arrivals faced overcrowded and significant challenges to access essential services. “Life is difficult here in refugee camp, but at least we are safe now from the bombs.” said by Shamsul Nahar, a 34-year-old mother of two children from Moni-Para Maungdaw. While many new arrivals felt relief after escaping the constant dangers of the conflict, they also strongly pointed the ongoing lifesaving struggles they face in the camps, basic necessities such as food, clothes, medical support, clear water, a shelter to stay and all of them still remain in constant challenges. The humanitarian NGOs and as well as the government of Bangladesh advised the new arrivals to stay in relative’s shelters, and are not provided yet emergency support. Some new arrivals staying at their relative’s shelters but most of them are making makeshifts in remote forest area. They are in urgent need of foods, clothes, water resources, and shelters.
The feelings of someone who lost their beloved homeland and dwelling in someone’s else ground is full of emotions. Many respondents reported their feelings of loss, grief, severe trauma as they look back on their journey. “The decision of leaving my home was most the hardest of my entire life,” said Mohamed Nayeem, with trembling voice, he also added “but it was meant death for me and my family if we stayed. I had no choice felt except it. The loss of homeland, the livelihoods, and beloved ones, has left many new arrivals struggling with depression, anxiety and severe trauma. In the refugee camps, safety may be provided but for the arrivals, it is quite hard to carry the deep wounds of their past.

Even with aid of humanitarian NGOs, there are still remain huge gaps in what the new arrivals truly need. They are in need of access to doing job for financial stress of the family to survive, and there are many arrivals who are well eductors and experts at many fields, secondly they need medical health cares, which are seemed the biggest concerns. As Nur Alam, shared “We are staying in a relative’s shelter, and become a burden of the family as its just have barely enough food to eat, less clothes to wear however we manage to stay but what more we really need is support for our minds and hearts,” Many others expressed the same struggle, calling for job chances, obtaining trainings, education opportunities for their children, and better access to healthcare, especially mental health services.

In conclusion, the Rohingya new arrivals’ experiences clearly pointed out how harsh and arduous reality was of leaving everything behind for a search of safety. They face immerse struggles, from lack of basic needs such as, clothes, food and shelter to sleep peacefully and reduce the emotional pain. They are in need of all basic necessities and also access to attending school, job chances and mental health care, for rebuilding their lives. Their journey is not just about survival, it is about finding hope again. The world must not forget them!