Turkey films plight of Rohingya refugees

By Dildar Baykan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) has filmed a documentary on Rohingya Muslims’ struggle and their plight at the refugee camps in Bangladesh.

The documentary titled “Stay Alive” is filmed by the foundation’s three-member team, which had been to Bangladesh’s Cox Bazar district to document tough conditions at the refugee camp and the hospital there.

The documentary also shed light on the persecution of Rohingya Muslims since the end of the 19th century.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

Since Aug. 25, over 656,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into Bangladesh, according to the UN.

Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 750,000 refugees -- mostly children and women -- have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to Amnesty International.

The documentary projected that “the most desperate definition of poverty is Rohingya Muslims.”

The documentary also included drone footages of the refugees crossing the Naf River to reach Bangladesh.

- 'Border between life and death'

The 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) wide Naf river between the two countries is labelled as “the border between life and death” in the documentary.

One of the most striking parts of the documentary is the birth of a child at the camp. The doctors who work in the refugee camp say around 70-80 babies are born there in a week.

In the last part, the documentary displayed the hospital where Rohingya, who were subjected to violence by the Myanmar’s military, are being treated.

One of the notable details in the documentary is that 47 of the patients who were tortured in Myanmar were children.

At least 9,400 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24 last year, according to Doctors Without Borders.

In a report published recently, the humanitarian group said the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5.

The UN documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel.

In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.