When Mr Mohammed Salim washed ashore on the coast of Aceh province in Indonesia during the South-east Asian refugee crisis last year, he was hungry, thirsty, emaciated and exhausted.
All he wanted was rice, water and to get to a safe nation. “America, Australia, anywhere,” he told me then.
When I caught up with him just over a year later, he appeared healthier and cleaner, but nowhere closer to getting somewhere. (Courtesy of todayonline.com)
June 20, 2016
UN special rapporteur starts 12-day tour
The 12-day trip will be special rapporteur Yanghee Lee’s first official visit back to Myanmar since the elections took place last November and the National League for Democracy-backed government came to power in April.
“Important steps have already been taken to further democratic transition, national reconciliation, sustainable development and peace,” Ms Lee said in a statement. “I intend to make a comprehensive and objective assessment of the human rights situation taking these elements into account.” (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
“Important steps have already been taken to further democratic transition, national reconciliation, sustainable development and peace,” Ms Lee said in a statement. “I intend to make a comprehensive and objective assessment of the human rights situation taking these elements into account.” (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)
Iftar hosted for Rohingya refugees
Extending a helping hand to Rohingya Muslim refugees, a group of young professionals have teamed up this Ramzan to offer them iftar, serving them dishes like Haleem and Biryani during the holy month.
The group, comprising Mujtaba Askari, Khurram, Sadiq, Imran and Zeeshan, along with other volunteers, has organised two iftar parties for the refugees so far over the last two weekends, and plans to treat all the refugees with a Ramzan feast by the end of the holy month. “We are covering 150 families per week and calling them over to a community hall in that area and making arrangements for iftar followed by prayers and dinner,” said Mujtaba Askari from Helping Hand Foundation. (Courtesy of thehindu.com)
The group, comprising Mujtaba Askari, Khurram, Sadiq, Imran and Zeeshan, along with other volunteers, has organised two iftar parties for the refugees so far over the last two weekends, and plans to treat all the refugees with a Ramzan feast by the end of the holy month. “We are covering 150 families per week and calling them over to a community hall in that area and making arrangements for iftar followed by prayers and dinner,” said Mujtaba Askari from Helping Hand Foundation. (Courtesy of thehindu.com)
Apart from Sri Lankans, here are three lesser known refugees in India
Every now and then, a Syrian ship sinks on its way to safer shores and with it go down hundreds of refugees. Closer home, just a few weeks ago, a group of Sri Lankans were arrested after they tried to flee the Indian shores. With an uncertain future looming over them, refugees around the world are just about surviving but barely living. However, the subject of refugees is finally gaining some world-wide attention.
Tamil Nadu has opened its doors to Sri Lankan Tamils for decades now. But on the occasion of the World Refugees Day on Monday (June 20), Express decided to interact with lesser known refugees from other countries as well. (Courtesy of newindianexpress.com)
Tamil Nadu has opened its doors to Sri Lankan Tamils for decades now. But on the occasion of the World Refugees Day on Monday (June 20), Express decided to interact with lesser known refugees from other countries as well. (Courtesy of newindianexpress.com)
Preserving hope
The world we live in has been torn apart by wars and internal domestic conflict. The twenty-first century has seen human suffering and forced displacement, from new wars and old, in almost every corner. While armed forces battle it out, whether over lines on a map, natural resources under the ground, minor ethnic differences, or irreconcilable religious conflicts, the victims are one and the same – innocent people who lose their lives or who leave their homes behind to flee to unknown territory to pass their days in uncertainty and often in destitution.
There is now a staggering 60 million people in the world today who are forcibly displaced from their homes. Sixty million people like you and me are bereaved from their loved ones, separated from their family members, uprooted from their land and livelihoods, torn from their social fabric and tossed into the dark pit of despair. Among these suffering victims of conflict and discrimination, almost half are children, and half are female. The trauma that each refugee suffers, is an experience that we must work collectively to end, for the generations that come after us. The human race has reached unprecedented heights of material and technological development – in this age of advancement, we should unite to find a solution for those of us who continue to suffer meaningless losses. Peace and progress must be shared – only some cannot reap benefits while others suffer. (Courtesy of thedailystar.net)
There is now a staggering 60 million people in the world today who are forcibly displaced from their homes. Sixty million people like you and me are bereaved from their loved ones, separated from their family members, uprooted from their land and livelihoods, torn from their social fabric and tossed into the dark pit of despair. Among these suffering victims of conflict and discrimination, almost half are children, and half are female. The trauma that each refugee suffers, is an experience that we must work collectively to end, for the generations that come after us. The human race has reached unprecedented heights of material and technological development – in this age of advancement, we should unite to find a solution for those of us who continue to suffer meaningless losses. Peace and progress must be shared – only some cannot reap benefits while others suffer. (Courtesy of thedailystar.net)
Govt to brief diplomats about Rohingya census Monday
The government is going to brief foreign diplomats about the latest Rohingya situation on Monday as it concluded the first ever census on the undocumented Myanmar nationals residing in Bangladesh.
Diplomats of Europe and American countries, and Southeast Asia will join the briefing, said an official of the Foreign Ministry.
“We have concluded the census on Rohingya and it is expected that we will get the final outcome within next two to three months,” he said.
The census was conducted in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Patuakhali, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Khagrachari and Chittagong. (Courtesy of dhakatribune.com)
Diplomats of Europe and American countries, and Southeast Asia will join the briefing, said an official of the Foreign Ministry.
“We have concluded the census on Rohingya and it is expected that we will get the final outcome within next two to three months,” he said.
The census was conducted in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Patuakhali, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Khagrachari and Chittagong. (Courtesy of dhakatribune.com)
Rohingya boat crisis could reoccur anytime
A year after one of southeast Asia's worst refugee crises, things seem to have improved. But below the surface, the situation remains bleak.
In May 2015, the world watched in horror as human traffickers stranded thousands of people in the Bay of Bengal on rickety boats with scant supplies of food and water.
For weeks, the boats, packed to the rim with desperate people, remained at sea as country after country refused to take them in, until overwhelming international pressure and media attention forced action to be taken. (Courtesy of wptz.com)
In May 2015, the world watched in horror as human traffickers stranded thousands of people in the Bay of Bengal on rickety boats with scant supplies of food and water.
For weeks, the boats, packed to the rim with desperate people, remained at sea as country after country refused to take them in, until overwhelming international pressure and media attention forced action to be taken. (Courtesy of wptz.com)
Plight of the Rohingyas
The question on the minds of the Rohingya on World Refugee Day today is whether Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, long silent, will speak out about their plight.
Even in April this year, Suu Kyi asked the new US ambassador to Myanmar, Scot Alan Marciel, to refrain from using the term 'Rohingya' and the envoy replied that the US, as a standard practice, uses the term that a people use to refer to themselves.
But the first time she would be willing to talk about the crisis of the Muslim minority group in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, was when US Secretary John Kerry visited the country for the first time after Suu Kyi's party National League for Democracy (NLD) assumed power.
The Dhaka Tribune obtained a recording of the joint press briefing held on May 22 where Suu Kyi raised the topic. (Courtesy of dhakatribune.com)
Even in April this year, Suu Kyi asked the new US ambassador to Myanmar, Scot Alan Marciel, to refrain from using the term 'Rohingya' and the envoy replied that the US, as a standard practice, uses the term that a people use to refer to themselves.
But the first time she would be willing to talk about the crisis of the Muslim minority group in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, was when US Secretary John Kerry visited the country for the first time after Suu Kyi's party National League for Democracy (NLD) assumed power.
The Dhaka Tribune obtained a recording of the joint press briefing held on May 22 where Suu Kyi raised the topic. (Courtesy of dhakatribune.com)
OIC Holds Iftar with Local Rohingya Community in Malaysia
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in partnership with HUMANiTi Malaysia, an NGO, held an iftar to celebrate Ramadan by bringing together more than 500 members from the local Rohingya refugee community.
Rohingya children and families joined in the blessings of this holy month at the iftar event held at the Saidina Othman Ibn Affan Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday, 18 June 2016.
The Director General of the OIC Cabinet and Special Advisor, Dr. Yusuf Al-Othaimeen, welcomed the guests and delivered a speech on behalf of the OIC Secretary General, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, in support of the humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering and hardship faced by Rohingya refugees. He extended sincere thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the OIC Special Envoy for Myanmar, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and the Organizing Committee for the Iftar. Dr Al-Othaimeen also expressed thanks to the Malaysian authorities for their support to the Rohingya people and to the OIC’s efforts to alleviate their suffering. (Courtesy of oic-oci.org)
Rohingya children and families joined in the blessings of this holy month at the iftar event held at the Saidina Othman Ibn Affan Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday, 18 June 2016.
The Director General of the OIC Cabinet and Special Advisor, Dr. Yusuf Al-Othaimeen, welcomed the guests and delivered a speech on behalf of the OIC Secretary General, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, in support of the humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering and hardship faced by Rohingya refugees. He extended sincere thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the OIC Special Envoy for Myanmar, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and the Organizing Committee for the Iftar. Dr Al-Othaimeen also expressed thanks to the Malaysian authorities for their support to the Rohingya people and to the OIC’s efforts to alleviate their suffering. (Courtesy of oic-oci.org)
Myanmar requests ILO to open country office
Myanmar has requested the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to open a country office in the Southeast Asian country, the Confederation of the Trade Union of Myanmar (CTUM) said on Sunday. (Courtesy of daijiworld.com)
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