Ajas Khan, a Rohingya youth leader and climate activist, has spoken out on the ninth anniversary of his forced displacement from Maungdaw township, Rakhine state, Myanmar. Khan, who was 13 when he fled, described the journey to refuge across the Naf River into Bangladesh as a three-day ordeal.
Khan stated that while the people of Bangladesh and humanitarian organisations have provided a safe place and saved lives, a plastic shelter is not a permanent solution, offering little beyond a place to sleep. He emphasised that exile has not broken young Rohingya people, who are studying and telling their stories.
Survivors are seeking truth about those who committed genocide against the Rohingya people and want the international community to continue providing support. Khan stressed that those responsible for these crimes must be brought to justice, regardless of whether they are soldiers, politicians, state, or non-state actors.
Khan asserted that decisions regarding the fate of the Rohingya people should no longer be made without their involvement. He stated that if governments or other interlocutors make decisions, Rohingya representatives must be present at the table.