Myanmar's Tragedy in the Shadow of the Devastating Cyclone

As the world's attention shifts from one crisis to another, Sadek M., a 22-year-old English student and a Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar, embodies the resilience and unwavering spirit of a community grappling with the aftermath of a recent cyclone in Myanmar. Amidst the chaos, his struggle to rebuild his life serves as a haunting reminder of the ongoing plight faced by the Rohingya population.

In a cruel twist of fate, Myanmar was blindsided by a merciless cyclone that struck with little warning. Sadek M.'s village, already scarred by the flames of violence in 2017, was ill-prepared for the ferocity of this natural disaster. Houses crumbled like fragile sandcastles; their foundations weakened by years of turmoil.

The cyclone spared no one, leaving behind a trail of devastation, and despair.

In the aftermath of the cyclone, as the winds died down and the rains subsided, Sadek M. found himself stranded in a displacement camp. It became a refuge after the Myanmar military burned their village in 2017.

Instead of receiving the help they desperately needed, Sadek M. and his fellow survivors were met with silence. The authorities turned a blind eye, their indifference to the suffering of the Rohingya people casting a shadow over any hope for assistance.

Sadek's family rebuilding their shelter, using tarpaulin and bamboo as walls. Photo: Supplied.

Although Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) and World Food Programme (WFP) say that they have been distributing aid to some extent in the region, testimonies of people on the ground underline the difficulties in reaching all the groups. In recent days, MSF has nevertheless received the suspension of travel authorization, a move which will disable the chance of opening healthcare clinics.

Cyclone Mocha struck Myanmar in mid-May, worsening the existing humanitarian crisis in the country already tormented by the fighting between the junta’s armed forces, ethnic armed groups and other opposition armies.

The cyclone hit the western state of Rakhine and nearby regions, causing significant destruction and loss of life. Hundreds of people have been killed, and thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed.

The United Nations has warned that inadequate aid is reaching the affected areas, and there is a growing concern about a food crisis and the spread of diseases due to contaminated water sources.

Now, Sadek M. and his family of ten people living in the Maungdaw Refugee Camp, tries to rebuild. With limited resources, they salvaged what they could, their determination fueling their resilience. Walls were patched with tarpaulin and bamboo, a fragile barrier against the rain. But the road to recovery remains fraught with obstacles. Skyrocketing prices mean that every step forward comes at an immeasurable cost. Basic necessities have become luxuries, and the future seems ever more uncertain.

“In the aftermath of the cyclone, we are confronted with the devastating loss of lives,” Sadek M. commented, as he shared the photos of people being buried.

Burials in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha. Photo: Supplied.

Beyond the devastation of the cyclone, Sadek M. and his community have faced an even greater challenge: the oppressive grip of the Myanmar junta. Denied citizenship despite their generations-long presence in the country, the Rohingya people remain treated as pawns in a political game.

“They treat us like slaves,” Sadek M. says, referring to the junta. “Also, Rakhine workers of the UNHCR and WFP, and teachers at Sittwe University use defamatory language against us”.  

This marginalisation of the Rohingya community and the lack of dialogue with the Buddhist majority have deepened the divides within Myanmar. The Rohingya people, subjected to systematic discrimination and denied basic rights, have faced immense challenges in preserving their cultural heritage and maintaining a sense of identity. The ongoing exclusion and neglect have left them in a vulnerable state, with limited opportunities for advancement and little hope for a brighter future.

As the days turned into weeks, Sadek M.'s struggle echoes the collective cry of a marginalised community. Their pleas for aid and recognition remained unheard, drowned out by the noise of geopolitical agendas. The international community, burdened by other crises, has failed to acknowledge the urgency of the situation. Sadek M.'s resilience stands as a testament to the strength of the Rohingya people, but it also highlights the desperate need for action and solidarity.

“We are defenseless not just against forces of nature, but also Myanmar’s junta, and other people who don’t treat us fairly,” he repeated.

As the absence of meaningful dialogue between different religious and ethnic groups has hindered the progress towards reconciliation and understanding, the failure to engage in empathetic conversations has perpetuated a cycle of misunderstanding, mistrust, and animosity.

Now, both Muslim and Buddhist people of the region will need to rebuild from the destruction, but will there be any future built on the common ground? 

-Asia Media Centre