The headlines have been flooded with the Rohingya and their expulsion from their home country of Myanmar/Burma over the last year. Sources say approximately 90% of the population of Muslim Rohingya were driven from their homes, and into the neighboring country of Bangladesh — that’s around 700,000 people. Many civilians were killed in the attacks from the government, many died on the road, and a significant amount of people drowned crossing the border. Still, it was safer for them to run than to stay and face the military.
Graphic video: Bodies of the Rohingya wash up from the Naf River. This video illustrates the difficulties in huge groups of people fleeing through the southeast Asian jungle with little to no help, and the toll it often takes.
However, not everyone who survived the journey was even able to make it into the refugee camps. Thousands of refugees are currently stuck in between the two borders, in a sort of no man’s land. Bangladesh is preventing them from crossing the border, posting armed guards at their front. To their rear, patrols of Myanmar military stroll by, and there have been reports of them laying land mines in case the civilians attempt to flee back into the country.
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
The headlines have been flooded with the Rohingya and their expulsion from their home country of Myanmar/Burma over the last year. Sources say approximately 90% of the population of Muslim Rohingya were driven from their homes, and into the neighboring country of Bangladesh — that’s around 700,000 people. Many civilians were killed in the attacks from the government, many died on the road, and a significant amount of people drowned crossing the border. Still, it was safer for them to run than to stay and face the military.
Graphic video: Bodies of the Rohingya wash up from the Naf River. This video illustrates the difficulties in huge groups of people fleeing through the southeast Asian jungle with little to no help, and the toll it often takes.
However, not everyone who survived the journey was even able to make it into the refugee camps. Thousands of refugees are currently stuck in between the two borders, in a sort of no man’s land. Bangladesh is preventing them from crossing the border, posting armed guards at their front. To their rear, patrols of Myanmar military stroll by, and there have been reports of them laying land mines in case the civilians attempt to flee back into the country.
Stuck on a barely livable strip of land claimed by neither country, only children can leave forward into Bangladesh in order to attain clean water for drinking. Some 6,500 people are here, according to Bangladesh.
Watch an exclusive video from Sky News on the subject. Graphic content: One Rohingya woman had stepped on a landmine and lost both her legs.
In other portions of the no man’s land, the Rohingya are allowed to cross forward but there have been reports of them choosing not to enter Bangladesh — remaining just out of reach from the Myanmar military. They may hope to one day go back to their homes, though the Myanmar Army has built fences in some places preventing an easy return.
There has been talk of repatriating at least these 6,500 Rohingya — however, these alleged repatriation efforts have been touted time and time again, but rarely do they actually happen, and certainly not in large numbers. Many sources on the ground have expressed cynicism whenever talk of repatriation starts to come forward.
Featured image: In this June 29, 2018, photo, Rohingya refugees look out from their camp near a fence during a government-organized media tour to a no man’s land between Myanmar and Bangladesh, near Taungpyolatyar village, Maung Daw, northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. | AP Photo/Min Kyi Thein
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.