Earlier this week, a boat carrying over 100 Rohingya refugees disappeared at sea. The boat, which departed from Bangladesh, was most likely on its way to a Southeast Asian country. Although tragic, the situation is not uncommon; according to a UN estimate, around 2,500 refugees have lost their lives traveling the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal since 2013. However, many Rohingya continue to risk the journey, hoping to find a better life than what is offered by Bangladesh’s dismal Refugee camps.
Who are the Rohingya?
The Rohingya are the people of a stateless Indo-Aryan ethnic tribe who have historically resided in Myanmar. A Muslim tribe and an ethnic minority, the Rohingya are considered one of the most persecuted groups in the world. With their rights severely curtailed by the Myanmar government, much of the Rohingya population has been forced to leave of the country, fleeing to refugee camps in Bangladesh and various Southeast Asian countries. As proven by the recent tragedy, however, the journeys to these dismal and dangerous camps are often highly unsafe.
How Can We Help?
Although it may be hard to help directly, many organizations that work directly with the victim of the Rohingya crisis accept donations.
The Organizations that are Currently Working with the Victim of the Rohingya Crisis:
UN Refugee Agency
Unicef
BRAC
Action Against Hunger
Doctors without Borders
International Rescue Committee
World Food Programme
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