• The Rohingya are the largest group of stateless persons in the world. Systematic discrimination and human rights abuses in Myanmar has led to mass migration; most aim to reach Malaysia in risky sea voyages, falling prey to human trafficking. Many don’t make it to their destination and end up detained in transit countries, many die on the way. Protection is by far the largest concern, including gender based violence and child protection.
• There are 1,000,000 Rohingya in Myanmar, mostly in Rakhine State. In Southern Rakhine 140,000 Rohingya remain in IDP camps since the 2012 violence; they are fully dependant on humanitarian aid and were particularly affected by recent floods. In northern Rakhine malnutrition rates are above WHO emergency thresholds, the floods have further reduced households’ resilience and led to a drastic increase in SAM. With the end of the monsoon, it is feared that the number of asylum seekers’ departures might increase.
• Only some 10% of the 500,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are registered, the others live in makeshift camps or with local communities. The absence of legal status is the main cause of vulnerability. Protection remains a challenge, as humanitarian presence is constantly under threat. Malnutrition has been above WHO emergency thresholds since 2010. Food and nutrition insecurity is aggravated by limited access to WASH and health. Frequent natural disasters further increase their vulnerability.
• In Thailand the number of Rohingya refugees varies, increasing when boats land and detentions take place and decreasing when people flee immigration detention centres or are deported. Lack of solutions relating to the future status of refugees increases the vulnerability of those detained.
• In Indonesia lack of future prospects leads Rohingya refugees to flee the camps, aiming to attain Malaysia, where they hope to find work.
• In Malaysia lack of durable solutions for refugees exposes them to human rights abuses. People engaging in illegal work to survive are at risk of becoming victims of abuse from employers and criminal organisations.