The Exodus
Photos, video and text by Joshua Paul
It is just like a scene from a disaster film, thousands of Rohingya Muslims scramble to safety as they make their way into Bangladesh. However, the refugees must first navigate through the Naf River which separates Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Based on the latest figures released by UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency), around 582, 000 Rohingyas have fled their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine State into Bangladesh as October 17. The latest exodus began on August 25, 2017 when several Myanmar border posts were attacked by Rohingya rebels.
As I look across the Naf River, I see scored of refugees balancing carefully on a small strip of land that goes across the river. Children are gripping the tattered clothes of their parents so they wouldn't get lost in the sea of strangers while elderly are holding their sons and daughters for support as they struggle across the muddy path.
Others carry what's left of their belongings, wrapped tightly in cloths and plastic sacks. While they may not have much with them, the refugees are careful not to get their belongings wet. Some find themselves having to jump into the river and walks towards the Bangladeshi border in Palong Khali.
I can hear toddlers crying, exhausted by the long journey from their hometown, between the teams their mothers and older siblings try to calm them down. Children are squealing in excitement when they spotted the border. They are thrilled that the imminent danger of being hunted by the Myanmar's army has passed.
In the passing of the Naf river, I see many of the refugees submerged themselves in the river to cool off their bodies from the punishing heat of the afternoon sun. Fresh water is scarce and the smell of mud and sweat fill the air. The moment of relief soon passes as they they find the inconvenient truth at the border.
Due to the overflow of incoming refugees in recent weeks, the Bangladeshi patrol guards are not allowing any more Rohingyas to cross. Camps are now overcrowded and the Bangladeshi government is desperately seeking helps to deal with the massive influx of refugees.
"If Bangladesh lets them in, where are they going to stay? All the camps over capacity,", said Rozana Majumdar, the programmed office of Christian Aid. Stuck between the Bangladeshi border and the hostile army in Myanmar, the Rohingyas have no choice but to stay put at "no man's land" in Palong Khali border. Without proper food and shelter, these refugees are exposed to the harsh weather and are forced to fend for themselves.
As I bid farewell to no man's land, I spot a rainbow over the ongoing chaos. While their fate remains uncertain, one could only hope that the storm of this exodus will pass soon.