One year since the biggest ever influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, the denial of legal status, coupled with unacceptable living conditions, continues to trap refugees in a cycle of suffering and poor health.
There are now over 919,000 Rohingya hosted in Cox’s Bazar district. MSF is one of the largest medical humanitarian actors in the response, and has treated over 656,200 patients, equivalent to over two-thirds the Rohingya refugee population, across its 19 health facilities or mobile clinics.
With no political solution in sight, the fate of the Rohingyas remains very uncertain. One year on, the camps remain massively overcrowded, with Rohingya refugees sometimes living in conditions one-tenth the established minimum humanitarians standard. Host states in the region (such as Bangladesh or Malaysia) deny them any formal legal status, despite the fact that they are refugees and have been rendered stateless. This keeps the refugees in a state of acute vulnerability.
Abu Ahmad
Abu Ahmad, 52 years old, is a father of eight. His wife Sara and he have eight children, four daughters and four sons. His 11-year-old daughter Rukia spent over seven months at MSF’s medical facility in Kutupalong. Abu Ahmad recounts how what life is like for his family in Bangladesh, and their hopes for the future.
Sara
Sara, 46 years old, is Abu Ahmad's wife. Together they have eight children - four daughters and four sons. Her daughter 11-year-old Rukia spent over seven months at MSF’s medical facility in Kutupalong. Sara spoke to MSF about fleeing to Bangladesh without seven of her children, and her hope to one day return to her home country, Myanmar.
Rachida
Rachida, eight years old, is Sara and Abu Ahmad’s youngest child. She fled to Bangladesh with sister Shafika, 16, and brother Roman, 12. She was happy to finally track down her parents and sister Rukia, but expresses uncertainty about their future.
Ismail
Rachida, eight years old, is Sara and Abu Ahmad’s youngest child. She fled to Bangladesh with sister Shafika, 16, and brother Roman, 12. She was happy to finally track down her parents and sister Rukia, but expresses uncertainty about their future.
