Rohingya migrants pray inside mosque at temporary shelter on May 17, 2015 in Kuala Langsa, Aceh province, Indonesia.
Deemed the people that nobody wants, Muslim Rohingya men, women and children are fleeing Buddhist Myanmar where they are persecuted, their destiny intertwining with that of other refugees from Bangladesh (where they also sought shelter). After many weeks at sea, they are landing by the hundreds, day after day, in Indonesia.
In March 2015, we wrote about the need for aid for Rohingya refugees and a special volunteer group using PayPal to help fundraise for basic needs like water.
The government of Malaysia has clearly stated that it won’t accept them and some boats are believed to be stranded at sea after being abandoned by smugglers. Human rights organizations urge the international community to aid all refugees in the Bay of Bengal, as survivors tell the darkest tales of abuse, beatings and killing. Some of them still bear visible signs of violence.
Below is a series of photos taken by Ulet Ifansasti with Getty Images on May 17, 2015 at a temporary camp in Kuala Langsa, in the Aceh province.