Joint Statement by Rohingya CSOs for Immediate and unhindered access to lifesaving aid after Devastating Cyclone (Mocha) in Arakan (Rakhine) State
May 19th, 2023
Arakan (Rakhine) state has been in an emergency since last Sunday as the devastating winds and heavy rain caused by the Category-5 Cyclone Mocha killed scores and caused extensive damage.
The cyclone destroyed infrastructures such as roads, bridges, telecommunication towers, and religious buildings and swept away many houses. According to the latest information from the communities, hundreds of people have died, and many are still missing.
No one was spared from this deadly cyclone. However, specific vulnerabilities of Rohingya exacerbated the impacts on our communities. For example, around 1/3 of us remaining in Rakhine have been internally displaced over the past 10 years and are living in camps with makeshift shelters. Most of the Rohingya IDP camps are along the coast on the direct path of the Cyclone and were hit by tidal waves, which swept away shelters and people. Due to the movement restrictions, there were little evacuation options for us. In the aftermath of the cyclone, when we are in dire need of emergency assistance, humanitarian actors and supports cannot get through to the Rohingya IDP camps as access has been blocked.
Rohingya living in Rakhine State are genocide survivors who have been attacked and discriminated against by the Burmese military for decades. The living conditions for Rohingya were inhumane and insecure long before the cyclone all displaced Rohingya and other internally displaced people must be allowed to back to their place of origin with their own will, safety, and dignity as an initial step of the durable solution.
Arakan (Rakhine) state direly needs immediate emergency aid and longer-term recovery. Local and international actors, governmental and private donors, regional countries, and the international community all need to work together to assist the millions of people in desperate situations in the aftermath of the most powerful cyclone of decades.
Cyclone is a natural disaster that affects people regardless of religion and race. However, our sufferings are exacerbated by man-made discrimination, such as restrictions of movement, exclusion from organized evacuation, and restriction of humanitarian access.
We urge our Rohingya brothers and sisters from local and diasporas to send emergency aid as soon as possible. We urge all parties to provide full access and to allow relief items and humanitarian staff into affected areas, in line with humanitarian principles and with full respect for their human rights and International Humanitarian Law obligations.
We would extend our gratitude and appreciation to all organizations and individuals providing emergency response during the natural disaster in Arakan (Rakhine).
Signatories
Organizations
Arkan Rohingya Society for Human Rights and Peace – ARSPH
Arakan Rohingya Union - ARU
Arkan Rohingya Development Association Australia
Arakan Institute for Peace and Human Rights (AiPAH)
Burmese Rohingya Organization UK -BROUK
Burmese Rohingya Community in Japan - RCJ
European Rohingya Council - ERC
Free Rohingya Coalition - FRC
Global Rohingya Women Network
Los Angeles Rohingya Association
Right for Rohingya Children – RRC
Rohingya Center of Canada
Rohingya Women Association for Education and Development
Rohingya Women for Justices and Peace
Rohingya Union for Women Education and Development
Rohingya Student Network - RSN
Rohingya Youth Association - RYA
Rohingya Refugee Committee - RRC India
Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (R4R)
Rohingya Society for Greater Houston
Rohingya Progressive Network
Rohingya Medics Organization - RMO
Rohingya Youth Federation – RYF
Rohingya Education Development Plan – REDP
Rohingya Student Unity Rights – RSUR
Youth for Rohingya Legal Action - RYLA
Youth for Rohingya Development
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