In a significant healthcare development for the Rohingya refugees, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a Hepatitis C surveillance program linked to treatment centres on March 6, 2024, in...
Refugees/Migrants - South-East Asia
Introduction
In 2015, mixed maritime movements in South-East Asia were characterized by two distinct phases: from January to May, when the volume crossing the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea was significantly greater than during the same period in previous years; and from June to December, when such movements all but disappeared following the abandonment of thousands of refugees and migrants at sea in May. Some 1,600 refugees and migrants were estimated to have departed by sea from the Bay of Bengal in the second half of 2015, 96% less than in the second half of 2014. By contrast, the 31,000 departures estimated in the first half of 2015 were 34% higher than in the first half of 2014. (UNHCR, 23 Feb 2016)
The root causes of refugee flows continue to persist around the Bay of Bengal. Late August 2017 saw mass displacement after attacks on border guard posts in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State triggered a military response. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, putting a strain on aid resources. This is the largest mass refugee movement in the region in decades. The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in a critical humanitarian emergency. Most are now reliant on humanitarian assistance for food and other life-saving needs. (ISCG, 12 Nov 2018)
From January 2020 to June 2021, 3,046 Rohingya attempted to cross the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. (UNHCR, 19 Aug 2021) 2020 was the deadliest year in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea since UNHCR began monitoring deaths at sea in the region, with more than 200 people dying or going missing. This death rate amounts to 8% of those taking the sea journey. In contrast, in 2019, less than 1% of persons attempting the journey died at sea, and between 2013 and 2015, an average of 1.2% of persons attempting the journey died. Many more deaths may have gone unreported. As of June 2021, at least 9 people have already died or gone missing at sea in 2021. (UNHCR, 19 Aug 2021)
In Rakhine, an estimated 600,000 Rohingya people (including almost 130,000 Rohingya IDPs in central Rakhine and some 470,000 non-displaced stateless Rohingya people) mostly remain without identity documents and are subject to heavy restrictions on movement, limiting their access to livelihoods, and essential services. In Rakhine and southern Chin, new displacement as a result of the reignited AA-MAF conflict has further complicated the context and is driving escalating needs. As of 5 December 2022, AA-MAF clashes had resulted in the new displacement of 23,350 people since August 2022, taking the total number of IDPs from past and present AA-MAF conflict to 97,000. As of 26 December 2022, more than 49,800 had been displaced to neighboring India since February 2021. (OCHA, 25 Jan 2023)
The resumption or intensification of armed conflict resulted in new displacement of around 1,175,300 people since 1 February 2021, bringing the total number of displaced people across Myanmar to approximately 1,504,800 by the end of 2022. The number of IDPs in Myanmar continued to grow in 2023. By late May 2023, there were over 1.8 million IDPs in Myanmar, an increase of some 331,600 compared to end-2022. In 2022, neighbouring countries reported refugee arrivals from Myanmar. Cumulatively, an estimated 36,700 people from Myanmar fled to India (30,200) and Thailand (6,500) in 2022. In India, approximately 30,200 arrived, mostly in the north-east of India, based on estimates made available from community-based organizations, media and UNHCR internal triangulation of data — not on a specific data source from the Government of India. (UNHCR, 4 Jul 2023)
At least five fires were reported in the Bangladesh camps since January 2023 - several deliberately lit - with one leading to the destruction of 2,664 shelters and displacing 5,274 people. Additionally, increased violence by armed groups and a lack of livelihood and education opportunities has led to large numbers of Rohingya taking to risky journeys by boat, with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reporting a 360% increase in the number of Rohingya who attempted journeys by sea in 2022 when compared to 2021. Overland routes have resulted in the arrest of hundreds of Rohingya in Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. (APRRN, 5 May 2023)
Over the past twelve months, turf wars among rival armed groups have bedevilled the sprawling refugee camps located in Bangladesh’s southern Cox’s Bazar district. Fighting between the once-dominant Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and groups such as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) has left scores of refugees dead, while the number of abductions – in which armed groups or criminal gangs hold refugees for ransom – has increased nearly fourfold in 2023. While violence earlier occurred only at night, militants wielding knives and locally made guns now roam the camps during the day, threatening residents and killing rivals. (ICG, 6 Dec 2023)
UNHCR is alarmed by statistics revealing a surge in the number of desperate Rohingya refugees reportedly dying or going missing while taking risky boat journeys in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal during 2023. Some 569 Rohingya were reported to have perished or gone missing in 2023 in South-East Asian waters, with nearly 4,500 embarking on deadly sea journeys – a significant increase on previous years. The number reported missing or dead is the highest since 2014, when the total reached 730. The findings for 2023 include some shocking details. The total reported dead or missing was over 200 more than in 2022. Survivors have shared horrifying accounts of abuse and exploitation during the journey, including gender-based violence. Estimates show one Rohingya was reported to have died or gone missing for every eight people attempting the journey in 2023. This makes the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal one of the deadliest stretches of water in the world. (UNHCR, 23 Jan 2024)
As of 31 December 2023, the total Rohingya refugee population in Cox's Bazar was estimated to be 971,904 people. (UNHCR, Govt. Bangaldesh, 11 Jan 2024)
Bangladesh
Bangladesh + 1 more
Combatting Hepatitis C: WHO’s Strategic Surveillance and Treatment Initiative in Rohingya Camps
Bangladesh + 1 more
Sexual and Reproductive Health Working Group Bulletin: Rohingya Refugee Response, Cox’s Bazar (January - December 2023)
Situation Overview UNFPA takes the lead in guiding the Sexual and Reproductive Health Working Group (SRH WG), coordinating with over 40 partners that include Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),...
Bangladesh + 1 more
IOM Bangladesh Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis Response - Monthly Situation Report (January 2024)
IMPROVING FIRE PREPAREDNESS ACROSS THE ROHINGYA REFUGEE CAMPS The world’s largest refugee camps, the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, are vulnerable to re outbreaks in the dry...
Myanmar
Inquiet de l’escalade du conflit au Myanmar, le Secrétaire général appelle à cesser les hostilités, à acheminer l’aide humanitaire et à protéger les civils
SG/SM/22167 La déclaration suivante a été communiquée, aujourd’hui, par le Porte-parole de M. António Guterres, Secrétaire général de l’ONU: Le Secrétaire général reste profondément préoccupé par la...
Secretary-General Deeply Concerned by Deteriorating Situation, Escalating Conflict in Myanmar, Condemns All Violence, Reiterates Call for Civilian Protection
SG/SM/22167 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation and...
Human Rights Situation weekly update (March 8 to 14, 2024) [EN/MY]
Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Mar 8 to 14, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Tanintharyi Region, Shan...
South-East Asia
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India: Citizenship Amendment Act is a blow to Indian constitutional values and international standards
The operationalization of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 is a blow to the Indian constitutional values of equality and religious non-discrimination and inconsistent and incompatible with...
Indonesia + 2 more
Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (5 - 11 March 2024)
MYANMAR Fighting continues in multiple areas of the country, with a deteriorating situation in Rakhine and new dimensions to the conflict in Kachin. In Rakhine, more than 300,000 people are now...
Thailand + 1 more
2024: Refugee Preparedness & Response Plan, Thai-Myanmar Border
Context Three years since the military takeover on 1 February 2021, the conflict in Myanmar is escalating. The last quarter of 2023 saw an upsurge in fighting between the Myanmar Military (Tatmadaw),...
Beyond Bay of Bengal
Australia + 1 more
Revisiting Migrants’ Contributions from a Human Rights-Based Approach: A Discussion on Facilitating and Hindering Factors
The Refugee Council of Australia made a submission to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants’s “Report on Revisiting migrants’ contributions from a human rights-based approach: a...
Australia + 5 more
Australian government pledges at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum
At each Global Refugee Forum (GRF), governments, civil society organisations and others are invited to makepledgeson additional concrete actions they will take over the coming four years to support...
Australia + 1 more
Australia: Setbacks, Inaction on Key Rights Issues
Prioritize Fixing Offshore Detention, Rights of First Nations People, Children in Solitary (Bangkok) – The Australian government’s progress on human rights over the past year was undermined by...
Appeals and Response Plans
Bangladesh + 1 more
IOM Bangladesh Appeal 2024: Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis
Bangladesh + 1 more
2024 Joint Response Plan: Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis (January - December 2024)
Thailand + 1 more
2024: Refugee Preparedness & Response Plan, Thai-Myanmar Border
Humanitarian Action for Children 2024 - Myanmar
Latest Updates
Secretary-General Deeply Concerned by Deteriorating Situation, Escalating Conflict in Myanmar, Condemns All Violence, Reiterates Call for Civilian Protection
SG/SM/22167 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation and...
Slovakia + 5 more
UNHCR Slovakia Fact Sheet, February 2024
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, over two million people have crossed the border into Slovakia. UNHCR provides assistance and protection to refugees from Ukraine, as well as other forcibly...
Bangladesh + 2 more
UK provides £5.2 million additional humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
The UK is providing an additional £5.2 million (73.2 crore taka) of humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The UK announced this at the launch of the 2024 humanitarian appeal for...
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Key Events
- World Refugee Day, 20 June
- World Day against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July
- World Migrants Day, 18 December