Ian Woolverton
2017 Rohingya Crisis
I witnessed the harrowing persecution of the Rohingya in 2017. In August of that year, hundreds of thousands fled the escalating violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, seeking refuge in overcrowded camps in the Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh.
Characterised by UN agencies and human rights organisations as ethnic cleansing and genocide, the stories I heard were heartrending — accounts of murder, gang rape, and unimaginable brutality, including children shot and burned alive. Read my piece on the atrocities in The Guardian newspaper.
For hundreds of thousands, the only hope of survival lay in walking for days or boarding overcrowded boats bound for the relative safety of a foreign land just across the border.
In the southern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar, I spoke with child survivors and their families, who recounted the most horrific atrocities: killings and maimings, abductions, sexual violence, persecution, and forced displacement.
Families endured dire conditions in the camps. When it rained, the ground transformed into a grotesque, thick clay-like mud, turning even the shortest journeys into slow, perilous, and filthy treks.
I was on assignment with Save the Children International, tasked with reporting on the urgent humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh. Between 2002 and 2023, I documented a wide range of devastating humanitarian disasters, including conflicts, famines, terror attacks, earthquakes, tsunamis, and the escalating challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather. Each experience deepened my understanding of human resilience and the indomitable spirit of those affected.
While it’s wrong to compare crises, the suffering of the Rohingya people profoundly affected me. I still shudder at the account of a soldier dousing a pregnant woman in petrol before setting her ablaze, as well as the harrowing tale of a soldier throwing a newborn child into a fire. Unfortunately, I heard far too many of these harrowing stories, each one delving into the darkest depths of human brutality and despair.
In Bangladesh, the Rohingya people may have escaped murder, torture and rape but they faced new perils. Today they live cheek by jowl in sprawling camps.
A city-sized population endures cramped and harsh conditions after fleeing the horrific human rights atrocities in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State.
Among those forced to flee, heavily pregnant women, the elderly and children. A staggering 378,000 children fled northern Rakhine state and horrific violence.
The entire area where they reside was once lush jungle; now, it has transformed into a maze of makeshift shanties, covered with tattered plastic sheeting.
During my visit, one in four children under five was suffering from acute malnutrition. Limited access to clean drinking water and basic healthcare services raised alarming concerns about the potential outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Nur Kamal* is from Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State. We met in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where he had sought refuge from the extreme violence that the United Nations’ top human rights official, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, described as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” As we sat on the floor of Nur Kamal’s flimsy yet immaculately clean shelter, he recounted the tragic story of how one of his daughters was killed during the violence —details too harrowing to share here. It is estimated that 655,000 Rohingya now live in camps in Bangladesh.
*The name has been changed for privacy.
Razia*, a spirited seven-year-old, lives with her parents and four siblings in the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. In August 2017, her family fled extreme violence in Myanmar, where their village was torched. For two days, they hid in the jungle, ultimately making their way to safety after an arduous eight-day journey. I sat with Razia in their makeshift shelter, crafted from bamboo and flimsy plastic sheeting.
“I was very scared when our village was on fire. I kept hoping we would reach safety. At first, we tried to cross the river, which separates northern Rakhine State in Myanmar from Bangladesh, but we didn’t have any money for the journey. Then, a boat arrived from Bangladesh, and they asked us to board without paying, so we crossed the river. Now, every time I see people in army uniforms, I get very scared and start to cry,” said Razia, her voice trembling.
Though Razia has escaped the horrors of violence, she now faces a new challenge: the bitter cold of winter. January and February are the coldest months in Bangladesh, yet it’s common to see barefoot children in the camps, clad in only thin cotton clothing, shorts and t-shirts. “It is very cold from the ground and the water drips from the roof. That’s why I have this cough. We only have four blankets for the whole family,” Razia explained.
*The name has been changed for privacy.
Amid the mass of weary humanity, glimmers of childhood innocence persisted. I watched as a young child crafted a kite from nylon and a plastic bag, transforming scraps into something magical. The kite soared high against the backdrop of a cloudless sky, a reminder of hope and resilience even in the toughest of times.
Shortly afterwards a young boy trudged by shouldering heavy loads of bamboo for building construction. The moments of innocence fleeting.
I am continually inspired by the resilience of individuals whose lives have been shattered by violence and conflict. While navigating the narrow lanes of makeshift shelters, I came across a young entrepreneur diligently ironing clothes.
Despite the challenging conditions, the Rohingya people are unwavering in their determination to live with dignity and rebuild their lives.
Witnessing human rights abuses is an excruciating experience, one that leaves a lasting impact. It is a harsh reminder of human cruelty and suffering.
However, for the sake of the Rohingya people and countless others enduring similar atrocities, it is imperative that the international community takes decisive action to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Justice is not merely a legal obligation; it is a moral imperative. The voices of the oppressed must be heard, and their stories must be acknowledged. Only through unwavering commitment and concerted efforts can we hope to prevent future atrocities and restore dignity to those who have been so brutally wronged.