Myanmar war; A Rohingya harrowing escape from Myanmar border attacks and struggles for survival

In Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees remain in limbo relying on humanitarian support to survive in camps where the plagued by insecurity and natural disasters. In a heart wrenching survival story of Abdullah who is a Rohingya refugee, Shared his traumatic journey from Maungdaw township to cross border into Bangladesh. After fleeing armed attacks, relentless drone strickes and brutal human rights violations in his hometown. In 9^th july 2014, Abdullah was forced by Arakan army to leave from Maungdaw on his mother land, at the same time many others , was forced to leave everything behind as the Arakan Army took control of Maungdaw, unleashing heavy artillery and drone attacks that devastated his community.

Abdulla says; “I used to live in Lamar Para Italia in Maungdaw. When the attacks started everything changed. I lost my leg when they bombed my area. I tried to flee to safety, but the drones targeted us as we are running. When I got attacked I was senseless that time, I don’t know what happened with us, I thought I wouldn’t make it out alive.

In the meantime, his relatives came out there and help him to crossed border, When I arrived at the Bangladesh refugee camp, my relatives admitted me to the MSF hospital. After receiving treatment, I felt a little better than before. I can now sit and move, but one of my legs is completely lost. My family consists of seven members: my elderly father, my wife, four daughters, and one young son, he added.

Abdullah says; After arriving at the refugee camp, I did not receive any rations from NGOs or INGOs, making it extremely difficult to feed my family daily. When I first came to Bangladesh, I felt like a dead body. I was admitted to the MSF hospital for 45 days. We fled Myanmar because the situation there was unbearable; we were trying to save our lives. I cannot fully express the difficulties we faced during our journey—only Allah knows what we went through. We had to hide in the Naf River to avoid detection by security forces.

We faced countless challenges during our journey. While we were traveling, the Arakan Army (AA) used heavy artillery and drones. At one point, we stayed in Faran Furu village for two nights. During that time, my injured leg began to smell due to the wounds, and I became extremely weak.

Nowadays, I face even greater challenges because I cannot earn money to support my family. We also receive no external support, which adds to my sadness. I have four daughters, an elderly father, and mounting medical expenses. Supporting my family’s daily needs is becoming increasingly difficult. I hope someone can help us in this dire situation.

When we fled Myanmar, the situation was terrible. The Arakan Army (AA) killed over 1,000 innocent Rohingya people, including children, women, and the elderly, using drones and heavy artillery along the Naf River beach. Alhamdulillah, Allah saved me and my family. I saw the Arakan Army kill many people in my village right in front of my eyes. I cannot even imagine the scale of the massacre they carried out.

Now that I am in the refugee camp, I feel somewhat safe. The Arakan Army tortured us in unimaginable ways. Words cannot express the suffering we endured at their hands. We had to wait for more than three hours for boats to cross the Naf River. Life in Myanmar was extremely difficult, and we came here seeking safety.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis has led many to questions the international community’s response to the violence. While Bangladesh has opened the borders to the refugees, the conditions in the camps are dire, with limited aid reaching those most in need.

Abdullah’s plea is clear; we just want to live in peace. We want a life where we don’t have to fear for our safety everyday. My family has already suffered so much. Please, help us to live safely.

The brutal conflict in Myanmar, particularly in maungdaw township, has left scars that are impossible to erase. As more refugees like Abdullah find their way to Bangladesh, the world watches, hoping for a resolution to a crisis that continues to unravel.

The Rohingya refugee crisis has taken a more alarming turn as renewed violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state has forced an additional 86,000 Rohingya to seek refugee in Bangladesh since July 2024. This influx has compounded an dire situation, bringing the total number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to a staggering 1.3 million, a number that countries to rise.

The humanitarian crisis has sparked growing calls for international action. Bangladesh, while continuing to provide shelter to the displaced, has urged the global community to increase efforts to resolve the crisis. The Bangladesh government emphasizes that the only long-term solution is the safe repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar, where they can rebuild their lives with dignity and security. However, with Myanmar’s refusal to recognize the Rohingya as citizens and the ongoing violence in rakhine state, returning home remains an elusive dream for most refugees.

In 2024, Bangladesh’s funding needs amounted to $852.4 million, but only $548.0 million was provided. Such shortage have severely impacted vital services. Some international organization supports; the world food programme (WFP) has been forced to cut rations multiple times, exacerbating the suffering of refugees who are already living in precarious conditions. With limited support, the daily allowance for each stands at a mere tk 16(approximately $0.15), purshing many into desperate circumstances. Some have resorted to informal labor or even criminal activities to survive.

Bangladesh has been shouldering the burden of the Rohingya refugee crisis for years, but the scale of the challenge is increasingly unsustainable. The international community must not only step up funding but also work toward a lasting solution to allow the Rohingya to return home safely. In the meantime, Bangladesh must continue its efforts to improve conditions in the camps, ensuring that refugees are protected and given the resources they need to survive.