Andre Malerba

Photographer
   
Exodus
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Nationality: American
Biography: Andre is a fully accredited photographer based in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2016. From 2013-2016 he lived and worked in Myanmar exclusively, as the country struggled through the early days of democracy, and was awarded Magnum Photos 30 Under 30... MORE
Public Story
Exodus
Copyright Andre Malerba 2024
Updated Apr 2020
Topics Documentary, Editorial, Photography, Photojournalism
The Rohingya people have long been prosecuted and persecuted in Myanmar. The Myanmar government denies their right to exist, insisting that they are Bengali and have no claim to citizenship. For years, tens of thousands were forced into refugee camps in Sittwe in Rakhine State. They had one full time doctor for over 140,000 people. In 2014 the government banned foreign aid groups from operating in the camps. Rohingya that were able to remain in their villages lived in fear. This trend finally peaked in 2017 as the Myanmar military openly burned villages and opened fire on Rohingya, forcing them to flee in terror. More than half a million crossed the boarder into Bangladesh after walking for weeks, many bearing knife or gun wounds or worse. Stories of torture and rape were rampant. To this day they remain in camps outside Cox's Bazar with no place to go. Though the Myanmar government has offered to repatriate them, none have volunteered to go back, opting instead to stay in the crowded makeshift camps. The fear of what might happen to them should they return to Myanmar is too great.
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