In Search of a Home: Rohingya Refugees
The Rohingya refugee crisis lacks considerable amount of attention from International Organisations and many National Governments. Rohingya Muslims belonging to Arakan region of Myanmar have been expelled from their homeland following the clashes with Rakhine Buddhist population. The seeds of this hostility were sown back in the 18th century when the Buddhist from the south of Burma conquered the Arakan region which had a considerable population of Muslims who were ultimately forced to flee to neighboring Bengal, then part of the British India.
Again, to further their economy, Britishers sponsored a forced migration of many people from Bengal to the Arakan region (this included the Rohingyas and the native Bengalis) for farming purposes.
Hence, perpetuating the conflict which escalated into a large scale violence, reaching its high point in 2012.
In recent past, many Rohingya population have migrated to countries like Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia etc, They have been living in poor conditions and have witnessed physical as well as psychological violence.
In India the Rohingyas are living in refugee camps in New Delhi, Hyderabad etc. In New Delhi, Zakat Foundation provided them with land in Kanchan Kunj area, where Rohingyas have been living since 2012. The only mark of identification they have is an identity card provided by the UNHCR. the latter also looks into their grievances and immediate needs. The men of the camp wither work inside the camp in small constructions or are employed outside in local market.
There is a school for children in the vicinity and the fees is paid by the Zakat Foundation itself, but as one of the kids said, the foundation is planning to stop the fee payment soon.
The camp comprises of 50 families, although all share common grievances there is psychological violence inside the camp. Also, there are many activists amongst the residents who organise regular protests, sometimes near Jantar Manta while other times outside the Embassy of Myanmar. ‘We just want our voices to be heard amd get the attention we deserve.”said Mohammad Farooq who owned large farms back in Myanmar, (“I had 5–6 people working under me. I had a well established Construction business”)and has rescued around 10 Rohingya girls who were being trafficked from Bangladesh to India.
