SYDNEY (AP) — The Rohingya people have been fleeing their homeland in Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh by boat for years, despite the dangerous journey that has claimed the lives of hundreds. Many of these persecuted individuals feel that they have no other choice but to take the risk of crossing the treacherous waters, as they have been left with no alternatives by the international community’s lack of action.Last year, almost 4,500 Rohingya, mainly women and children, attempted the journey, with a death toll of 569 reported by the United Nations’ refugee agency. This marked the highest death toll since 2014, meaning that one out of every eight Rohingya attempting the crossing did not survive, as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The perilous nature of the journey has not deterred the Rohingya, as another boat carrying Rohingya refugees recently landed in Indonesia’s northern province of Aceh. The refugees, mostly women and children, were provided with food and water by local fishermen, after their boat’s engine broke down, leaving them adrift at sea for weeks. The head of the local tribal fishing community, Marzuki, mentioned that the Southeast Asian waters are notorious for being deadly and have claimed the lives of many Rohingya.
Despite the dangers, the situation within the squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh, where over 750,000 Rohingya fled in 2017 following attacks by Myanmar’s military, has become increasingly dire. Many Rohingya feel that they have no choice but to undertake the risky boat journey as the international community has not fulfilled its responsibility. The ban on Rohingya working in Bangladesh means they are reliant on food rations, which were reduced due to a drop in global donations. With no prospects of safe return to Myanmar and no opportunities for large-scale resettlement elsewhere, the Rohingya feel they have no alternative but to risk their lives at sea.
There is also a surge in violence within the camps, leaving residents fearing for their lives and feeling that they have no other options but to board the boats. Mohammed Ayub, a Rohingya living in a crowded shelter in a camp with scarce security and sanitation, shared his desperation at the lack of opportunities and hopes for his family. He acknowledged the dangers of the boat journey but stressed that the fear of remaining in the camps outweighs the risks of the dangerous sea journey.
The desperate situation has led many Rohingya to embark on the risky journey despite the high likelihood of it turning tragic. Six of Mohammed Taher’s family members were on a boat that vanished in November, leaving him and his parents in anguish. Although some survivors have found a better life after reaching their destination, many continue to perish at sea, and countless others face uncertain fates.
Despite the warnings and the tragic stories, many Rohingya, like Ayub, feel compelled to take the risk, driven by the hope for a better future elsewhere. The lack of better opportunities and the dire conditions in the camps leave them with little choice but to face the dangers of the perilous sea journey.
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