Gender-based violence among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: a public health challenge

ABSTRACT

On August 25, 2017, the military and paramilitary forces of Myanmar launched “clearance operations” against the Rohingya population in Rakhine state of Myanmar. In the resulting humanitarian crisis, a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) report estimated that the number of deaths crossed 9000 within the first 31 days of these “operations”. In addition to mass murder, other atrocities including burning down of residences, torture, rape, kidnapping continued to be practised on the Rohingya living in Myanmar. Those who could escape, braved great risks to cross the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar to seek refuge in Cox’s Bazaar district of Bangladesh. Currently, the number of refugees living in temporary camps has crossed one million, and local and international agencies are attempting to support them with basic living amenities and medical care. Their physical and mental health status is a global concern calling for immediate action. The magnitude of violence has been much higher among the adolescent girls and women of reproductive age.