On November the 23^rd 2023, a boat filled with Rohingya refugees landed on the Indonesian coast, specifically in the Aceh region. This does not represent an out-of-the ordinary event: every year, thousands of Rohingya risk their lives by undertaking long and costly sea journeys, often aboard boats in poor condition, in an attempt to reach Indonesia.

According to an UNHCR report, the total number of Rohingya who have fled Bangladesh and Myanmar this year is approximately 3,572 individuals, 31 percent of whom are children. The large number of minors on board has drawn the attention of Save the Children, which urges regional governments to honor their obligations and international commitments made in the Bali Declaration. That declaration requires governments to facilitate and ensure safe landings for boats carrying Rohingya refugees.

The Rohingya are an ethnic minority of the Islamic religion, originating in Myanmar, a Buddhist-majority country. The persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has roots dating back to the 1970s. Since then, this community has been consistently subjected to persecution by the government and Buddhist nationalists. In late 2016, the Myanmar military and police launched a massive crackdown against the people in Rakhine State, located in the northwestern region of the country. The Burmese military has been accused by various UN agencies, ICC officials, human rights groups, journalists and governments of perpetrating ethnic cleansing and genocide. UN investigations have found significant evidence of massive human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, summary executions, gang rape, arson of Rohingya villages, businesses and schools, and infanticide.

The crisis that erupted in 2017 forced many to have to take refuge in Bangladesh where they were housed in Kutpalong refugee camp, the largest refugee camp in the world. Partly because of its size, the living conditions inside the camp are just above the bare minimum to survive. In addition, since the arrival of the Rohingya on Bangladeshi soil the locals have started to complain about their presence and accused them of diminishing job opportunities and being criminals, specifically they were accused of dealing drugs. Due to rising tensions, the Bangladeshi government decided to severely limit the refugees’ ability to leave the camp. In October 2018, Bangladeshi and Myanmar authorities concluded a bilateral agreement to repatriate the Rohingya. But according to the UN, such repatriation can only take place when conditions in Myanmar are safe for the Rohingya, and they are given Burmese citizenship.

In light of the instability in which members of the group find themselves in, the international community’s response must be resolute and unified, to secure justice for the Rohingya and prevent further atrocities. it seems more than necessary for the UN to promote a humanitarian mission so as to ensure that human rights are respected. In addition, investigations could be initiated so that a process could be established against what is for all intents and purposes a genocide, perpetrated by various states, against the Rohingya.