The Rohingya Crisis: A Stateless People Seeking Justice

Summary:

The Rohingya people are an ethnic Muslim minority who have lived in Myanmar's Rakhine State for centuries. But because of their Muslim identity and their ethnicity, they’ve been denied citizenship and faced decades of persecution by the Myanmar government.

In 2017, the Myanmar military launched a violent crackdown, forcing nearly a million Rohingya to flee their homes, many seeking refuge in Bangladesh.

The United Nations has called the Rohingya “the most persecuted minority in the world,” as they continue to face violence, exploitation, and displacement.

Standing with the Rohingya today means speaking up for their right to freedom, dignity, and peace.

What’s Happening Now?

Over 1 million Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar.

The Rohingya are still stateless, denied citizenship in Myanmar and lacking legal recognition, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Ongoing violence and persecution. The Rohingya remain stuck in cycles of suffering in Myanmar, with no safe pathway to citizenship or security.

Humanitarian aid is limited, with refugees facing overcrowded, unsafe conditions in camps and lacking basic necessities like healthcare, education, and sanitation.

How Did We Get Here?

Once a Land of Peace

For centuries, the Rohingya have lived in the Rakhine region of Myanmar, practicing Islam in a predominantly Buddhist country. Their roots in the area trace back to the 15th century, with generations of families living, working, and building communities.

British Colonial Rule

During British colonial rule in Burma (present-day Myanmar), the British moved people from different regions to work in agriculture, which increased tensions between the ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Muslim Rohingya. This division worsened during the British occupation, and when Myanmar gained independence in 1948, the Rohingya were not recognized as citizens, leading to their statelessness.

The Rise of Persecution

In 1982, the Myanmar government passed a citizenship law that excluded the Rohingya, officially rendering them stateless. The military junta and nationalist groups used ethnicity and religion to marginalize the Rohingya, calling them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh despite their long-standing presence in Myanmar.

Over the decades, the Rohingya faced systemic discrimination, with limited access to education, healthcare, and employment. The Myanmar government and military denied them basic rights, reinforcing the idea that the Rohingya were outsiders who did not belong in Myanmar.

The 2017 Crackdown: The Tipping Point

The Rohingya crisis escalated in August 2017, when a small militant group called the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked police posts in Rakhine State. While ARSA claimed to be defending Rohingya rights, they do not represent the views or interests of the vast majority of Rohingya people, who have long pursued peace. The group emerged after decades of systemic persecution — but violence in any form only deepened the suffering. In response to the attacks, Myanmar’s military unleashed a brutal and disproportionate crackdown, carrying out mass killings, sexual violence, and the destruction of entire villages.

The military’s actions forced nearly 1 million Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, where they now live in the world’s largest refugee camp, in Cox’s Bazar. Despite this, the Rohingya are still not recognized as citizens in Myanmar, and repatriation efforts have failed due to the ongoing violence and instability.

Statelessness

The Rohingya are the world’s largest stateless group, denied citizenship and basic rights, making them vulnerable to exploitation, human trafficking, and violence. The military's actions in 2017 were labeled by the UN as "textbook ethnic cleansing," yet the Rohingya continue to suffer without adequate protection or recognition from the Myanmar government.

A Continuing Humanitarian Crisis

Today, the Rohingya remain in dire conditions. In Myanmar, they are still trapped in a cycle of violence with no pathway to citizenship or security. The 2021 military coup worsened the instability, plunging millions into a state of humanitarian emergency. Roughly 19.9 million people, including 6.3 million children, now need urgent assistance.

The Rohingya in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has welcomed them, offering shelter in refugee camps. Yet, these camps are overcrowded, unsafe, and lacking in basic services. Access to education, healthcare, and basic needs is limited, leaving them vulnerable, particularly women and children who face inhumane abuse and exploitation.

International Inaction

Despite the vast scale of the crisis, international responses have been limited. While UN agencies and humanitarian groups like Médecins Sans Frontières and Save the Children provide aid, Myanmar's refusal to grant citizenship or human rights to the Rohingya means the crisis remains unresolved. The world has not put enough pressure on Myanmar to change its policies, allowing the situation to persist.

This Is About Humanity

This is a humanitarian emergency that demands global attention.

We take a stand for the dignity, freedom, and protection of innocent lives.

How Can We Help?

Staying informed through reliable sources and raising awareness.

Supporting organizations delivering emergency aid to the Rohingya, such as the UNHCR, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Save the Children.

Advocating for the rights and recognition of the Rohingya people.

Pressuring governments to hold Myanmar accountable for its actions and demand safe and dignified conditions for the Rohingya in Bangladesh.

Sources:

UN Human Rights Council – Rohingya Crisis Report, 2017

United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) – Rohingya Refugee Crisis, 2025 Updates

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – Myanmar Humanitarian Crisis, 2025

Amnesty International – Rohingya: The World’s Most Persecuted Minority