The journey of a young Rohingya man from genocide to survival and hope

Global Voices, in an essay published Thursday, carries one Rohingya man's account of fleeing Myanmar. Mohammed Asem describes crossing the Naf River under gunfire at age ten in 2017, part of what the piece cites as roughly one point two million Rohingya driven into Bangladesh after a 1982 law stripped their citizenship, per UNHCR estimates. He recounts years in the Kutupalong refugee camp, where statelessness later cost him a scholarship to study in Turkey despite finishing high school. Asem now leads Arakani Youth Innovation, a group he founded to advocate for Rohingya youth, as the prospect of returning home remains uncertain amid Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton