Myanmar's refugee crisis

It has been reliably estimated that there are now a staggering 89 million displaced people worldwide. Over 27 million are refugees fleeing conflict, persecution and political oppression in their homelands. Bordering countries have become host to those seeking a safer, better life. Massively overcrowded refugee camps are heavily reliant on the assistance of humanitarian organisations to provide essential supplies and makeshift homes for those seeking resettlement in countries like Australia.

Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh is one such site where the largest refugee settlement in the world has become a temporary, but somehow permanent, home for those fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar.

Photo from UNHCR

Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country of 54 million people, is populated by over 100 different ethnic groups. Formerly known as Burma, it gained independence in 1948 but since then has been embroiled in ethnic fuelled civil war causing over a million people to flee their homes to escape persecution. Religious minorities are specifically targeted and Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya people has been condemned by international humanitarian organisations. This Muslim minority group has for decades suffered atrocious targeted violence – entire villages burned, civilians tortured and killed, women and girls gang raped. They have been accused of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and denied citizenship, effectively deeming them stateless.

A deadly military crackdown in August 2017 forced more than 700,000 Rohingyas to escape across the border to Bangladesh. The United Nations has described the offensive as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. Furthermore, the military coup in February 2021 has resulted in an escalation of violence, a collapsed economy, rising poverty and persecution. To further complicate an already critical situation, in March 2019 Bangladesh announced it would no longer accept Rohingya refugees.

Australia is home to around 32,650 people from Myanmar and an estimated 3,000 are Rohingya. Most live in southern states, however a few like Dollah have found their way to Queensland. You can read Dollah’s story here.

Relatively small numbers of Rohingya asylum seekers are being resettled in Australia. However, the Australian Government has contributed significant humanitarian support to help provide for the humanitarian needs of Rohingya people within Myanmar and Bangladesh. Reportedly, defectors from Myanmar’s military who have managed to flee the country are being granted protection visas by the Australian government.

During the month of June, participants of Move2Belong did a 42km fitness challenge in solidarity with the journey many refugees made from Myanmar to Bangladesh. The campaign raised over $33,000 for You Belong’s initiatives to help newly arrived refugees get connected and integrated through Welcome Picnics, English class, Learner Driver lessons, and a traumatic resilience program for children.

It’s not too late to add your donation to the campaign and empower refugees to thrive! www.move2belong.com.au