Distress (Page 20)

As extreme heat settles over the region, tensions have reached a boiling point in the Rohingya refugee camps of Bangladesh. 

Accounts of murder, human trafficking, domestic violence and increased militancy from armed Rohingya groups have become routine. A number of major fires, suspected to be the work of arsonists, have caused mass homelessness since the beginning of the year. And straining things even further, in March, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced a nearly 17% cut to the refugees’ monthly food vouchers. 

Legally restricted from getting jobs in Bangladesh, blocked from re-entering Myanmar with citizens’ rights and with little chance of being resettled elsewhere, many of the roughly 1 million Rohingya living in the crowded camps of Cox’s Bazar are making plans to flee by any means necessary. Besides the many who have already cast off into the Andaman Sea on rickety boats, nearly a dozen refugees who spoke with Southeast Asia Globe told of community aspirations such as obtaining false documents to integrate into Bangladesh society or even attempting to cross back into their native Rakhine State of Myanmar, despite the spiraling conflict there following the 2021 military coup.

Camp resident Abdul Hamid* said he was motivated to return to Myanmar because of his four-year-old son. Explaining that he himself has a university education, he saw no prospects for his child to have a good life in the camps and feared the consequences of staying there.

“I have a very talented and intelligent young boy and I know his future would be better if I could just leave camp,” he said, adding that his personal safety was also a concern. “I fear for my life in the camps, as extremists may target educated people.”

Crossing back into Myanmar was a consideration for many who spoke with Globe. But Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition advocacy group, said this is a dangerous move. 

“Repatriation without guarantees of ethnic and citizenship rights, the right to return to original villages, freedom of movement, and equal rights as other ethnic groups is like returning to the killing field,” he said.

In 2017, more than 750,000 Rohingya fled in a mass exodus from Myanmar’s Rakhine State across the border to coastal Cox’s Bazar. Since then, conditions in these densely populated camps have steadily worsened.

This deterioration is paralleled by escalating hardship across Myanmar, where the ruling junta has carried out mass killings, arbitrary arrests and other abuses in a bid to defeat several insurgencies and consolidate its rule.

Plans from the government of Bangladesh to resettle the refugees in their native Rakhine State of Myanmar has been widely condemned due to human rights concerns there, particularly the military junta’s continued repression of Rohingya residents. As the violence continues to escalate, the prospect of a safe repatriation feels more distant by the day, leaving those in Cox’s Bazar with seemingly no good options.

Many Rohingya have tried to gain sponsorship to countries such as the U.S., but have failed. An increase in dangerous, and often fatal, sea journeys to third countries, such as Thailand or Malaysia, has been widely reported.  

“There’s no doubt the situation has become much more desperate in the camps, with the food ration cuts, increased violence, restrictions on livelihoods and increased Bangladesh government repression of refugees’ rights,” said Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia division director of Human Rights Watch. “These factors certainly play a major role in pushing more Rohingya to risk the perilous sea voyage to Malaysia, where they hope to find respite from oppression and earn a living to support their families back in the camps.”

‘It is normal to hear gunshots at night’

Along with the fear of forced repatriation, the Rohingya population are also worried about violence allegedly at the hands of armed groups in the camps that are increasingly battling for dominance. 

In early January, a majhi – or camp leader – named Rashid Ahmed was stabbed to death.

The following day, the son of a deputy majhi, Mohammad Selim, was shot dead. Since these murders, at least seven more reported murders of Rohingya community leaders have taken place in the camps or nearby. Several more apparent assassinations may appear on Twitter but not even on the local news. 

Bangladesh authorities allege the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is behind some of the killings, operating in rivalry with the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO).

“It is normal to hear gunshots at night,” said Mohammad Hassan, another camp resident. “In camp, the violence of armed gangs is increasing day-by-day. The armed groups kill, kidnap, and conduct other illegal activities.”

John Quinley, director of non-governmental organisation Fortify Rights and a Rohingya rights advocate, said fear is “palpable” among camp residents – and directed both at militants and authorities alike. 

“Our team has documented human rights violations by [the Armed Police Battalion] in Cox’s Bazar including arrest, beatings and extortion,” said Quinley, adding that his organisation had uncovered murders and abductions of community leaders. 

Quinley places some responsibility on the government of Bangladesh for the situation. 

“Ongoing Bangladesh government-imposed restrictions on refugees legal status, freedom of movement, and access to livelihoods as well as deteriorating security situation in the camps are some of the reasons Rohingya are leaving for countries in ASEAN,” he said. 

In March, massive flames ripped through the Balukhali camp in Cox’s Bazar, destroying more than 10,000 shelters.

Besides leaving thousands homeless, the fire also gutted essential services including safe spaces for women. A series of smaller fires have broken out since.

“The fire caused a lot of damage to shelters and infrastructure, which has left thousands of people homeless and without access to clothes, food and water,” said refugee Mohammad Riyas. “The camp is already in such a bad way. The fire has been devastating … now we live in fear of another source of hardship.”

The fires are also likely to have been started intentionally by armed groups within the camp in an act of orchestrated sabotage, adding to fears within the community. This possibility, which some investigators say is highly likely, is currently being researched.

Another strain on the Rohingya, further adding to their distress, was the WFP’s February announcement that it was cutting the food aid of the refugees from $12 per person down to $10. The UN agency cited a large drop in funding internationally as the main reason for this change, as the WFP is facing a $125 million funding shortfall.

“The aid situation [in the camps] is not enough, even though the WFP says it is enough. The price of the materials is higher than before, and all are struggling to survive,” said refugee Hassan. 

Amin, another Rohingya rights activist residing in the camp, said the available rations consist of only rice, lentils and spices.

“We have been facing so many diseases, as we can’t eat healthy food,” he lamented. “We feel like prisoners eating food that is served in jails.” 

Given the deteriorating conditions in the camps, Amin said the refugees saw little choice but to seek other places to live.

“How would you feel in this camp?” he asked. “What would you feel in this situation? I think you would try to move somewhere else, where you felt free and safe.”

Movement with no escape 

Some of the camp residents have opted to move to Bhasan Char, an island about 60  kilometers from the Bangladesh mainland.

Windswept and desolate, the island has been used since 2020 by the Bangladesh government to rehouse some of the refugees to relieve pressure in the camps.

Rohingya activist and community member Salim Islam* feels safer living on Bhasan Char. He moved there with his family in 2021 to avoid ARSA, which has yet to establish a foothold there. Salim said the militants targeted him not only for extortion but also recruitment, due to the high level of education he attained in Myanmar. 

“Most of the members of ARSA are not highly educated, so they wanted me to conduct advocacy for them,” he said. “They also threatened me and my family when we refused to pay a fake ‘tax’.”

At the same time, life on Bhasan Char offers little in terms of long-term stability to its inhabitants. Even if the island offers some respite for now, many in the mainland camps see it as yet another bad option laid out before them.

Whether those in the Cox’s Bazar camps choose to smuggle themselves back into Myanmar or board a ship to Bhasan Char or some other, farther destination, many of those who spoke with Globe were desperate to get away somehow.

“I don’t want to stay here,” said camp resident Aung Myint, an activist and reporter who had tried unsuccessfully to gain permission to go to the U.S. “This life that I am living, it is like a prison for me. It is like a jail. So definitely, I have to leave here. I have to.” 

*Some names have been changed due to personal safety concerns.

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When Mee Xaiyasongthor first began to doubt the everyday, dark feelings of loneliness that she couldn’t seem to tremble, she was just a teenager.

She set out on a desire to free herself from her own terrible thoughts as she felt more and more cut off from the rest of her peers, solitary, and misunderstood in her rural northwestern Laos home. & nbsp,

She remarked,” I started asking myself what was wrong with me.” ” I didn’t have any friends I could talk to.” I feared being by myself.

Mee, a top health technology student in Vientiane’s capital, quickly realized she needed assistance. However, since she lacked support, she was forced to teach herself coping skills she had learned online. In addition, & nbsp,

She said,” That’s when I realized I wanted to assist those who are mentally ill and unable to see relief.” I aspired to work in psychology.

Mee quickly discovered, however, that earning a psychology degree is not an easy option for students in Laos because such degrees are not offered it. & nbsp,

The nation’s health infrastructure is usually constrained, with mental health infrastructure being particularly so. The closest philosophy university at any of Laos’ three regional universities is helpful psychology, which is more closely related to teaching, despite having a dispersed population of 7 million and only one licensed psychiatrist. & nbsp,

During the confinement of the Covid – 19 pandemic, development agencies, civil society, and youth-led counseling advocacy groups like Gamlang Chai and WeCare made progress in improving fundamental solutions. Even so, a general lack of knowledge or awareness of mental health conditions frequently makes it challenging for those in need to seek assistance before it’s too soon.

Mee believes the crisis was at least a turning point for sensitivity, despite the fact that she really believes Laos has inadequate overall mental health support. More tangible ideas feel deep off for the time being.

She said,” I quickly realized that becoming a neurologist was neither simple here.” ” My only option was to begin my medical studies before submitting an application for a scholarship to study overseas.”

Where are the authorities?

The United Nations Population Fund( UNFPA) has contributed to the development of a more robust set of hotlines for those seeking assistance over the last three years.

In order to maintain longer hours and high-quality counseling through current alerts as well as creating new ones to visit interest during the pandemic, UNFPA worked with the Health Ministry, the Vientiane Youth Center, Lao Youth Union, and the Women’s Union.

According to UNFPA Laos nation representative Mariam Khan,” there is an increase in the burden of thought well-being whenever there is distress, whether physical, emotional, or socioeconomic.” ” Our goal is to establish a secure support group that is trained to offer consolation and security to local areas so they can feel relaxed reaching out.”

Khan added that the lack of experience became” very apparent” when UNFPA started looking for national counseling educators, but the biggest problem was finding enough certified and trained individuals throughout Laos who specialized in this field.

Dr. Kongsy Chounlamany is currently one of only two individuals in the nation with a master’s degree in information psychology from Thailand; the other is retired. She is also the only person with a Doctorate in academic philosophy from Sweden’s Ume University. Chounlamany is the only public psychology professor in the nation and the evil dean of the National University of Laos’ Faculty of Education in Vientiane.

The biggest issue, according to Chounlamany, is that even in hospitals, physicians who treat psychological illnesses are not psychology or doctors. ” They don’t have any formal mental health exercising.”

She claims that among Lao academics, mental medical studies have never been well-liked. She claimed that belief or folk medicine, which attributes for conditions to a mother’s uncomfortable pregnancy or is completely ignored, has historically been used to diagnose mental health disorders. In addition, & nbsp,

The subject is still largely prohibited in Laos. People who spoke with Globe claim that as a result, mental health issues are typically ignored until they become extremely serious or lead to suicide, which would be extremely embarrassing for the victim’s life.

Later in the 1970s, the National University established an Education and Psychology Department, but due to a want of instructors and students, it quickly closed. The ministry didn’t resume its doors until 2017 but, once again, the same issue arose. & nbsp,

According to Chounlamany, there are only seven students on the staff this year.

Lao students offering assistance

She does, however, believe that the subject may now be beginning to change. & nbsp,

People started setting up support groups and mental health advocacy sections on social media as a result of the grief brought on by pandemic lockdowns. Federal public services, in the meantime, increased their efforts in offering counseling training to medical professionals and emergency response participants across the nation in collaboration with international organizations like UNFPA. & nbsp,

Since 2021, Khan has also observed a discernible change in mental medical assistance. & nbsp,

However, she claimed that in Laos, discussing self-harm to the point of suicide is still viewed negatively, just like in many other faiths. She countered that by emphasizing the function of traditional support systems in guiding the susceptible away from ruin. Health emergency response to such incidents is either limited or nonexistent in most places.

The strong sense of community is what makes this place really distinct, according to Khan. There is a propensity to interact at the community level, even though the legal service system may not be as well developed for catastrophes and emergencies.

This strategy led Lao Youth Radio speech Valy Phommachak to co-found the Gamlang Chai social media community support system, which is roughly translated as” cheering and supporting you.”

During the pandemic’s hardships, Valy served as a public radio speaker and felt highly the target of scathing remarks on social media from enraged individuals.

She remarked,” I couldn’t get any more hateful comments, and I was no longer able to handle it on my own.” ” All I wanted to do was stop. I was aware that I needed assistance.

Valy wanted to provide a secure environment for her own members who were having trouble with their mental health as she was able to get assistance through shattered charity organization. Gamlang Chai was the end result, which she and her party introduced in late 2020.

Since then, they have held numerous Wellness Festivals, screen debate, and many activities in Vientiane. In order to get all the tools and data about mental health in Laos, including line numbers, breathing techniques, and a list of medical service providers, they are now looking for funding to develop if necessary.

Valy stated,” We wanted to educate people about mental health and to destigmatise it.” I’m not an expert, but one way I do know is that even the smallest amount of assistance can make a difference.

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