These men identify themselves as Rohingya. They live in the Rakhine State of Myanmar (formerly Burma), a country dominated by the ethnically Buddhist majority.
Although the Rohingya people have existed in Myanmar for many generations, the government denies them citizenship and persecutes them as illegal immigrants.
“I don’t know why they hate us so much, we never fought anybody.”
Arbul Borshor, 65
“There is no security from the government. If I go back home I believe I could get killed. I don’t have hope. I will stay here as long as I live.”
Shab Miah, 60
"This is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life."
Oli Oolar, 96
“I don’t think this situation will ever change.”
Noorbi Hussain, 60
“I don’t hope there is any solution to this situation.”
Ali Huson, 65
“We are hungry, we don’t have food to eat. We have to pay rent here, but how can we pay if we don’t have jobs?”
Ali Miya, 49
All these men have lived in the same refugee camp since the Rakhine State Riots in 2012, a series of conflicts between Rakhine’s ethnic Buddhists and the Rohingya, which destroyed their villages and displaced thousands of people.
Life outside the camp is not an option since the government denies them the ability to leave without permission.
The Rohingya are considered one of the most oppressed peoples in the world.
