Lives of the Rohingya children in limbo: Childhood, education, and children's rights in refugee camps in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Rohingyas, an ethnic minority of Myanmar, have been denied human rights, including nationality. For decades, they have suffered from brutal oppression, discrimination, violence, torture, unjust prosecution, murder, and extreme poverty. Hostile situations in Rakhine State have forced the Rohingyas to flee from their homes and seek refuge in neighboring Bangladesh and other countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and even distant Saudi Arabia. Many of the Rohingya refugees are children who escaped from their homeland with traumatic experiences and memories. In Bangladesh, the Rohingya children live in desperate conditions in overcrowded, makeshift refugee camps. They are exhausted, frustrated, and poorly nourished, and they have been battling diseases, including Covid-19, as their conditions have become more challenging and volatile. This article explores the historical context of this crisis and analyzes, from the human rights perspective, issues associated with the Rohingyas’ displacement and the impact it has had on the Rohingya children.

Well-being of the Rohingya Children in Refugee Camps in Bangladesh: Strategies, Coping Mechanism and Challenges of the Support Systems

“…These children are particularly vulnerable to child labor, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The overcrowded conditions in the refugee camps exacerbate pre-existing problems, such as gender inequality, genderbased violence, and discrimination (Shohel, 2022(Shohel, & 2023UN Women, 2018). The humanitarian crisis in refugee camps continues unabated, with children's vulnerability being repeatedly exploited.…”

“…According to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), 52% of children exhibited abnormal emotional symptoms, and 25% displayed abnormal peer problems (Khan et al, 2019). Living conditions within the camps, limited opportunities for play, and the fact that 50% of children reside with their grandmothers or extended family members, resulting in inadequate adult supervision to observe and nurture behaviors such as sharing and cooperation, played pivotal roles in these findings (Shohel, 2023). Children who are parentless or have lost one or more family members during the recent crisis are identified as being at significant risk.…”

“…Studies (Shohel et al, 2022;Shohel, 2023Shohel, & 2022Ullah et al, 2023;UNHCR, 2018) have revealed a high incidence of various mental health issues among the Rohingya children, including symptoms commonly associated with PTSD and depressive disorders. Additionally, there is a notable prevalence of behavioral health problems, such as suicidal thoughts, impulsive rage, psychotic-like symptoms, unexplained physical manifestations, and other symptoms.…”

“…The Rohingya minors and young people, among the world's most vulnerable children, have endured some of the worst consequences of conflict-induced displacement (Shohel, 2023). They have witnessed and experienced brutality, oppression, and marginalization on their home soil.…”

“…The Rohingyas face substantial and persistent human rights violations that include denial of citizenship, restrictions on migration, restricted access to education and medical care and obstacles to wedding, childbirth, and religious practice (Riley et al, 2021). The violation of their human rights is extensively documented by international human rights organizations and UN reports (Human Rights Council, 2018;Shohel, 2022Shohel, & 2023. Asrar, 2017;Shohel et al, 2023b).…”