Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, are protesting nine years after a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee across the border.
The protests are mainly aimed at drawing attention to their continued displacement and difficult living conditions in Bangladesh. Refugees are demanding safe, dignified and voluntary return to Myanmar, with guarantees for their security, citizenship and basic rights.
Many Rohingya refugees say they cannot return to Myanmar unless there are credible guarantees that they will be protected from further persecution. They also want recognition of their identity and citizenship, as well as access to education, healthcare and livelihoods.
Conditions in the refugee camps have also become increasingly difficult. Aid organisations have warned about shortages of funding, food and other essential services, while insecurity and criminal activity have added to the challenges facing refugees.
The Rohingya crisis began on a massive scale in August 2017, when Myanmar's military launched a campaign in Rakhine State following attacks by an armed Rohingya group. The crackdown involved widespread killings, sexual violence and the destruction of villages, according to UN investigators and human rights organisations.
Nine years later, most Rohingya refugees remain unable or unwilling to return because of continuing insecurity and uncertainty over their rights in Myanmar. Their protests are therefore a reminder that the crisis remains unresolved and that they continue to seek a safe and dignified future.