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A couple of years ago, Myanmar’s persecution of the Rohingya minority group was in the spotlight. Now a couple of years later, what many refer to as Myanmar’s genocide is almost forgotten. Close to a million Rohingya live in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. The refugees do not have the opportunity to work or go to school. According to Doctors Without Borders, the situation is dire.

Aung San Suu Kyi

The former winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and current leader of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi has received harsh criticism for the treatment of Myanmar’s Rohingya population. Persecution of the ethnic group has increased sharply since she became Myanmar’s de facto leader. Her silence and lack of will to do anything has been striking.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague is currently hearing allegations of genocide committed against the Rohingya in Myanmar. Read Aftenposten about this

Why are we forgetting the Rohingya people?

I ask the question why we forget so quickly. How the events in Myanmar can go from being in the news around the world to being almost forgotten? OK, we read a little now and then. But I stand by my claim. Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya people is almost forgotten.

Is it the case these days that news from distant regions is only of interest while the murder, rape and flight of a group of people is going on? Or is it the case that this ethnic group is Muslim and then it is not as important?

Why is it that some refugees in a remote and poor country like Bangladesh receive little attention? Does human life matter less in that part of the world?

Humanitarian aid

Fortunately, both Doctors Without Borders and the Norwegian Refugee Council carry out humanitarian work in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. It is obvious that the need for help is great. The burden on Bangladesh, which itself has major economic and social problems, is also great. Such a refugee catastrophe is not a local problem, but an international problem.