By: Ro Maung Shwe
Meet Setara Begum, a 23-year-old Rohingya woman who recently arrived in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, after surviving unspeakable violence and hardship in her homeland. Her story is one among countless untold struggles faced by the Rohingya community amid the ongoing conflict in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
Setara was born and raised in Shwe Za village, located in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State. She came from a middle-class family; her father worked as a vehicle driver and provided a relatively stable life for his children. Eventually, her family arranged her marriage to a man from the neighboring village of Hyair Para in Maungdaw town.
However, life took a tragic turn in August 2024. The region became a battleground between the Myanmar military regime and the Arakan Army (AA), with the latter launching intense attacks in the area. While the conflict was officially between two armed groups, it was the civilian Rohingya population that suffered the most.
According to Setara, “The Arakan Army mostly targeted innocent Rohingya civilians. Over a thousand people were killed, even though they had no involvement in the war. Many Rohingya women, including myself, were subjected to harassment and violence.”
She vividly recalls one terrifying day when a group of Arakan Army soldiers stormed their village and ordered all residents to leave immediately, claiming they should “resettle elsewhere.”
“We, the entire village, didn’t obey,” Setara says quietly. “We had no money, no transport, and nowhere to go. So we stayed.”
The next day, the soldiers returned—and unleashed terror. “They tortured the whole village,” she shared with Rohingya Khobor, her voice shaking. “I was one of the survivors. They beat us brutally. I saw many young men killed right in front of us.”
Despite the violence, Setara and her family stayed behind out of fear and necessity. Relatives already living in Bangladesh warned them not to come.
“They told us not to come to Bangladesh because life in the camps is extremely difficult. There is no access to education, no healthcare, no jobs, and no freedom. Once you enter the camp, you’re trapped forever,” she explained.
Still, they hoped for peace and remained in Rakhine until December 2024. But things worsened after the Myanmar military lost control of the Maungdaw-Nakaka region and the Arakan Army took over. Under the new authorities, restrictions on Rohingya became even more severe. They were banned from running businesses, using vehicles, or even moving freely. A strict curfew was imposed from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with public threats of being shot for violating it.
“With these new restrictions, my husband lost his income,” Setara said. “The prices of food and essentials skyrocketed, and we couldn’t survive anymore.”
With no other choice, Setara and her husband decided to flee. Their journey to Bangladesh was long and dangerous. “We walked for more than seven days to reach the Naf River border,” she said. “When we got there, it was heavily restricted, and we couldn’t cross.”
They waited on the riverbank for three more days before finally managing to pay 10,000 Kyat per person to cross by boat.
Yet even after reaching Bangladesh, life did not get easier. “We received no immediate aid or shelter like the refugees who came in 2017. We had to struggle for food, clothes, and a roof over our heads.”
It took five months before Setara’s family was issued an official refugee card, allowing them to receive food aid from the World Food Programme (WFP) and basic supplies such as cooking utensils and gas cylinders from UNHCR. They were recently registered and issued a biometric identity card by the UN refugee agency.
“I’m pregnant now,” Setara says, gently touching her belly. “But due to a lack of nutrition, I feel too weak to walk or do household work.”
Despite receiving some humanitarian assistance, her family continues to live in deep poverty. “My husband can’t find any work. Most days we survive on just lentils and rice—sometimes eggs, if we’re lucky.”
Setara Begum’s story is far from unique. It echoes the voices of thousands of Rohingya families who continue to flee unimaginable persecution in search of safety. Her journey sheds light on the persistent trauma faced by Rohingya women—both in Myanmar and after reaching refugee camps.
While humanitarian agencies have extended basic support to late arrivals like Setara, significant gaps in protection, employment opportunities, and healthcare services remain. The international community must renew its commitment to provide not just emergency aid, but long-term support, dignity, and justice for Rohingya refugees.
Setara’s plea is simple yet powerful: the world must not look away. Her story is a call for empathy, accountability, and action.
