The fastest growing refugee crisis

On August 25 this year, hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas started fleeing military operations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and crossing the border to take shelter in Bangladesh. And the exodus continues. So far, there is no visible progress in the repatriation process.

With the Rohingyas streaming into Bangladesh fleeing a brutal crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State, the UN rights body chief denounced the atrocities as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.  There have been multiple reports of security forces and local vigilantes burning Rohingya villages, shooting unarmed civilians and raping women. Myanmar's de facto leader Suu Kyi and the military keep facing the condemnation of the global community amid calls for an end to the violence against one of the most persecuted minority groups in the world.  The Bangladesh government and the local community in Cox's Bazar bordering Rakhine State have been widely praised for the response to the unprecedented influx, especially for keeping the border open. However, a lot of challenges lie ahead as the repatriation of the refugees doesn't look like something that's going to happen anytime soon. 

“Bangladesh is not a rich country ... but if we can feed 160 million people, another 500 or 700,000 people, we can do it."

PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINA 

“As we witness the unfolding horror we pray for you [Suu Kyi] to be courageous and resilient again... for you to speak out for justice, human rights and the unity of your people." 

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU 

“The situation has spiralled into the world's fastest developing refugee emergency, a humanitarian and human rights nightmare."

UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES