By: Camp Correspondent
April 26, 2025 | Yangon, Myanmar
As the armed conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) intensifies across Rakhine State, thousands of Rohingya civilians have fled in search of safety to cities like Yangon and Mandalay.
But instead of finding refuge, many now face a new crisis: life without an official identity.
“We ran to save our lives, but here we’re living without rights,” said a Rohingya man currently sheltering in Yangon.
“Without an ID, we’re invisible.”
Trapped in Bureaucratic Limbo
Most Rohingya in Yangon rely on the fragile Form-4 travel document, which must be renewed every 45 days.
Each renewal demands:
- Money for fees and bribes,
- Travel to distant offices, and
- Paperwork that many cannot afford or complete without assistance.
“I applied for my ID card four years ago, and I’m still waiting,” said another refugee.
“They say it takes a few weeks, but we are waiting years. Nothing moves unless you have connections—or money.”
Cycle of Poverty and Invisibility
With no right to formal work, no registration, and no access to healthcare or education, most Rohingya are crammed into overcrowded rental homes in Yangon’s poorer neighborhoods.
Many refugees describe a vicious cycle:
- Paying rent and food costs from informal labor (if available),
- Scraping together funds for Form-4 renewals,
- And still remaining stateless and vulnerable.
“Every month, we must pay for the Form-4 extension. But how can we earn when we’re not allowed to work?” asked a young Rohingya woman.
“Some people are selling the little they have just to survive.”
The Long Wait for Recognition
Despite repeated promises, immigration authorities have failed to process many Rohingya applications for National Verification Cards (NVCs) or citizenship documentation.
“We are citizens by birth, but we are treated like foreigners,” said an elderly Rohingya refugee.
“Without ID, we are nothing.”
The community is now urgently calling on Myanmar authorities—and international agencies—to:
- Expedite document processing for displaced Rohingya,
- Stop discriminatory practices,
- And recognize their fundamental right to legal identity.
A Life Between Hope and Despair
As conflict continues to rage across Rakhine, displaced Rohingya in Yangon remain stuck in limbo:
Unregistered, unprotected, and unheard.
Without swift intervention, they fear that their plight will deepen, leaving yet another generation of Rohingya trapped without a future.
