In Indonesia, the Rohingya refugees face uncertainty and hostility as the country has not signed the UN Refugee Convention, leaving them without legal status or access to basic amenities. Despite this, they remain hopeful for a peaceful and secure life. Aziz Ullah, one of the refugees, shares his experience of overcrowding, lack of food and water, and loss of fellow passenger during his grueling 17-day journey from Bangladesh.
Following a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh where conditions in refugee camps are dire. The shipwreck of a boat called “Mobaraka” serves as a stark reminder of their harrowing voyage on Kulam beach in Aceh, Indonesia where 233 Rohingya refugees arrived after their journey.
The camps in Aceh are overcrowded and lack basic amenities, leaving residents feeling trapped, bored and abandoned with limited resources and prospects for a better future. Recently there have been local backlash against their presence leading to protests and threats against the Rohingya refugees reflecting growing hostility and intolerance towards them.
Despite this precarious situation, Aziz Ullah’s family remains hopeful for recognition and justice but their pleas have largely gone unheard. The plight of the Rohingya refugees highlights the ongoing struggle for recognition, rights and dignity for one of the world’s most persecuted populations.
