“HORRORS I WILL NEVER FORGET” The stories of Rohingya children Foreword “The military set our house on fire. Then they started killing people with machetes. Men, women, children. Everyone. We ran away and never went back. On our way to Bangladesh I walked into an abandoned village to look for food. I came across a big water reservoir where I wanted to get some water for the journey. When I got closer I saw at least 50 dead bodies floating in it. I can’t forget the smell of the burning houses, or the sight of the bloated bodies. These are horrors I will never forget.” This horrifying account comes from a 12-year-old This report is filled with the testimonies of children boy. What he has witnessed is something no child who have seen and suffered senseless acts of should see. It is almost beyond belief – an outrage – violence in this crisis, along with testimonies from that will inevitably stay with Hosan* forever. families and friends who recount the stories that others cannot tell for themselves due to trauma, Perhaps the saddest thing about his story is that it separation or death. is not unique. Time and again children have told our teams on the ground in Bangladesh of the appalling The stories tell of children killed and maimed by the violence they have endured and witnessed as they Myanmar military. Stories of children burned alive in fled their homes in Myanmar. their homes. Stories of girls being raped and abused. In October 2017, I travelled to Cox’s Bazar, Within these pages is a challenge from these Bangladesh, to speak with children and their children. A challenge to do more. A challenge to families affected by this crisis. I was left heartbroken those with the power to put an end to the violence and angered by what I heard and what I saw. to do so. A challenge to the international community Determined that more must be done now to to move on from empty rhetoric and ensure that end the violence and help children recover from these grave violations against children end and those these horrors. responsible are held to account. “We want to be free from fear. We want to live our lives in peace. Please help us… We beg you.” This is what 15-year-old Halima* told us, when asked what she wanted to share with the world. We have published this report so the voices of children like Hosan* and Halima* can be heard. Now is the time to listen and to act. Helle Thorning-Schmidt Chief Executive, Save the Children International * All names have been changed to protect identities Left: Gul*, one year old, with her mother Pervin*. They fled Myanmar when their village was attacked and are now living in a makeshift camp in Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh. (Photo: GMB Akash/Panos Pictures/Save the Children) Cover photo: Shawkat Ara*, 9 years old, was slashed on the head with a machete when her family’s village in Myanmar was attacked. She and her family fled and are now living in a camp in Cox’s Bazar district. (Photo: GMB Akash/Panos Pictures/Save the Children) Introduction Since 25 August 2017, Bangladesh has seen an unprecedented arrival of Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. To date more than 600,000 people have crossed the border, at a speed of displacement the world has not witnessed since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Those who have fled speak of seeing children targeted witnessing massacres or being taken away to be for brutal sexual violence, and killed and maimed raped. They have seen and experienced things indiscriminately. Countless people have experienced that no child should ever see, and many are deeply denial of humanitarian assistance. Others have told traumatised as a result. us of their children being abducted, or of living in fear Their testimonies corroborate violations of their children being taken away. documented by the Office of the United Nations These appalling crimes amount to grave violations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty against children in conflict. They must stop and International and Human Rights Watch. The acts those carrying them out must be held to account. described are consistent, recurring and appalling. Save the Children is helping children who have With almost 60% of the refugee population under made the journey from Myanmar into Bangladesh the age of 18 this is truly a children’s emergency, to recover from their horrific experiences. Through and this collection of testimonies gives a voice to our programmes we have spoken with children and these children. By recording these grave violations their families who have experienced and witnessed against children we send a clear message to crimes. We have asked them if we can share their those responsible that these atrocities will not stories in an effort to highlight how children have be tolerated. been, and continue to be, targeted by military We must act now. operations inside Myanmar. This collection of testimonies is the product of those interviews. It paints a disturbing picture Warning: This report contains content of the horrors that children have been through. relating to violence against children and Almost every child we’ve spoken to has witnessed a adults, including sexual violence, that some family member or someone from their community readers may find distressing. killed. Others tell of being caught up in atrocities, In the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar district, where there are widespread shortages of food, water and shelter, heavy rainfall has made a desperate situation even worse. (Photo: GMB Akash/Panos Pictures/Save the Children) Background On 25 August 2017, fighters associated with the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked police posts and military checkpoints in Maungdaw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. There have also been reports of violence by ARSA against members of the public in the days preceding 25 August. The response of the Tatmadaw Rohingya refugees arrive at (Myanmar military) and other a transit site in Cox’s Bazar, Myanmar security forces has been Bangladesh. (Photo: Mark both violent and indiscriminate, Kaye/Save the Children) causing a huge displacement of families to the southern region of Bangladesh. Now more than 600,000 Rohingya refugees, the majority of whom are children, are living in camps, makeshift settlements and amongst the host community in the Cox’s Bazar region of Bangladesh. Having arrived hungry, exhausted and with just the clothes on their backs, many are now living in particularly dire conditions, completely dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive. Grave violations against children On 25 August, 1999, exactly 18 years before On the basis of this information, the United this latest wave of violence in Myanmar began, Nations Secretary-General names those who the United Nations Security Council adopted recruit, kill or maim children, commit sexual Resolution 1261, the first ever resolution on violence, abduct children and attack schools and children and conflict. The resolution identified hospitals in his annual report for engagement six violations against children that constitute with the goal of ending these violations. the violations of children’s rights with the As an independent international child rights greatest potential to impact them during times organisation, Save the Children regularly of conflict. These grave violations are: the killing documents these grave violations against children and maiming of children; recruitment or use in countries where it operates during times of children; sexual violence against children; of conflict. abduction of children; attacks against schools or hospitals; and denial of humanitarian access. In the case of North Rakhine where international non-governmental organisations including These violations are documented through Save the Children have been denied humanitarian a global UN-led Monitoring and Reporting access, these testimonies from Rohingya refugees Mechanism, where accounts are verified and who have fled into Bangladesh contribute to the compiled, in an effort to document the grave growing body of evidence that grave violations violations and help push to hold perpetrators have been committed against children. to account. 2 BANGLADESH Refugee influx to Bangladesh RAKHINE Buthidaung Maungdaw MYANMAR Damaged/destroyed areas Rathedaung Identified by Human Rights Watch/Amnesty International BAY OF BENGAL Sittwe Displacement camps from 2012 communal violence 3 Recommendations PREVENT GRAVE VIOLATIONS • As members of regional organisations, such AGAINST ROHINGYA CHILDREN as the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), they Member states must do everything in their power must also take a stand at the Asia–Europe to prevent further violations and protect Rohingya (ASEM) Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Myanmar children. They must pull out all stops to compel the in November. At this meeting, states must Government of Myanmar and the Myanmar military collectively apply pressure on the Government to act in the best interests of children by respecting of Myanmar to comply with its international their obligations under international human rights obligations and make it clear that there will be law and international humanitarian law and hold the political and economic costs if it continues to Government of Myanmar to account for violations: fail in its duty to protect. • As individual states, they must utilise every possible diplomatic opportunity and all legal BRING PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE and financial means available to persuade the Government of Myanmar to prevent violations These next key steps must now happen: and ensure the protection of children. • The Government of Myanmar must provide full • As members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), and unhindered access to independent observers, they must ensure the UNSC’s Presidential including UN Special Rapporteurs, the Office Statement (S/PRST/2017/22) on the situation in of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Myanmar is implemented and the Government and the FFM, and allow them to carry out their of Myanmar takes immediate steps to halt the mandates and document any violation of the violence, protect children and hold to account human rights of children. those who have committed grave violations • The Government of Myanmar must immediately against children. If the UNSC is of the view that begin a process to identify any persons who have there has been little improvement in the situation committed crimes against persons and property on receiving the UN Secretary-General’s briefing in northern Rakhine State on or after 25 August in 30 days from the adoption of the Presidential 2017 and bring them to justice in line with Statement, it must champion a UNSC resolution national and international laws, or accept the framed in the strongest terms to compel action jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court from the Government of Myanmar. As permanent (ICC) and request it carry out an investigation. UNSC members, they are reminded to refrain • If the Government of Myanmar fails to take from using their veto power where it is clear credible and timely steps to investigate the crimes crimes against humanity have occurred. that have occurred and end impunity, the UNSC • As members of the UN General Assembly, they must act and refer the situation to the ICC. must support a strong resolution on Myanmar during its Third Committee, which denounces the situation and calls on the Government ALLOW IMMEDIATE of Myanmar to take immediate steps to HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO implement the actions outlined in the UNSC’s Presidential Statement. NORTHERN RAKHINE STATE • As members of the Human Rights Council, they All humanitarian actors must be given full and must support the holding of a special session on unfettered access to northern Rakhine State the situation in Myanmar and adopt a resolution to ensure that children in need are provided denouncing grave violations committed against with lifesaving humanitarian assistance, their children and calling for full access for the psychological recovery is supported and they can UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (FFM). return to school when they are ready to do so. 4 A refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar district. (Photo: Maria de la Guardia/Save the Children) HELP ROHINGYA REFUGEES RETURN HELP REBUILD SHATTERED HOME WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO YOUNG LIVES All Rohingya and other ethnic groups who have Rohingya children have experienced severe distress fled Rakhine State have the right to return to their as a result of their experiences. Many have suffered place of origin or another location of their choosing horrific violations and witnessed the loss of their and be supported to do so in a way that complies loved ones. Those who have fled are now living in a with international law, is safe, dignified, informed, desperate situation in Bangladesh and are vulnerable voluntary and sustainable. The international to new risks and abuses. All children who have been community must make it clear to the Government affected by the violence and remain in Rakhine State of Myanmar that in order for this to be achieved: also need dedicated support: • the Government of Myanmar must develop • The Government of Myanmar must ensure a robust and credible plan to facilitate a that all children who have been affected by the returns process that aligns with international violence and remain in Rakhine State receive standards as a matter of priority. The UN High psychological support and are protected. Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant Humanitarian agencies must be allowed access international organisations must be invited to children in need to undertake assessments and to participate in the development and provide services. implementation of this returns process to ensure • The international community must ensure that all compliance with international standards. Rohingya children who have fled to Bangladesh • the Government of Myanmar must also develop are able to receive adequate care and support a clear and detailed plan to implement the to help them to recover. Donors must fully fund Advisory Commission on Rakhine State’s the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Response Plan and recommendations to address the root causes disburse funds swiftly to agencies on the ground of the current Rakhine crisis and create an who have the capacity to implement immediately. enabling environment for credible returns. This In particular it is critical that child protection, plan must be supported across all levels of mental health and psychosocial support, government, including the military, and be swiftly gender-based violence and education activities implemented. In particular, through this plan, are fully resourced. the Government of Myanmar must promote and protect human rights, without discrimination and regardless of ethnicity or religion, including by allowing freedom of movement, equal access to basic services and citizenship rights for all individuals. 5 “A soldier ripped a baby from his mother’s arms and threw him into the fire. His name was Sahab* and he was not even one year old.” Sahab*, male, under one year old, killed; recounted by Rehema*, female, 24 years old “For the last two years, we have had to flee from one village to the next. The military kept telling us that we had no right to be in Myanmar. “They wouldn’t let us pray. They wouldn’t let us travel to markets. If we tried they would beat us up. “Then six weeks ago they came and took away 40 girls and women. We never saw them again. “They have killed so many people and done such terrible things. “I saw a soldier pour gasoline over a heavily pregnant woman. Then he set her on fire. Another soldier ripped a baby from his mother’s arms and threw him into the fire. His name was Sahab* and he was not even one year old. “I will never forget their screams.” A refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar district. (Photo: Bastian Strauch/Save the Children) “They told us to go in our house and stay there... then they set our house on fire with us still in it.” Kabir*, male, nine years old and Hadi*, male, 11 years old, missing presumed dead; recounted by their father Hakim*, male, 41 years old “When the military came to our village they told us to go in our house and stay there. If we didn’t comply, they said, they would beat us up. “So I took my four children and wife inside. Then they set our house on fire with us still in it. “We panicked and tried to get out of our house, but everything happened so quickly. I saw my six-year-old daughter’s skirt on fire, so I grabbed her and ran out of the house. “My wife and 12-year-old son also made it out of our house, but we lost two of our children in the chaos. “I still don’t know what happened to them. I fear that they didn’t make it out of the house in time and were burned alive. “As people tried to run away the military attacked them with machetes. We all ran away as fast as we could. “It took us 15 days to get to Bangladesh. The whole way my daughter was crying. She needs urgent medical attention. She has really bad burns on her upper legs and in her genital area. She is in so much pain.” Rohingya refugees at a camp in Cox’s Bazar district. (Photo: Maria de la Guardia/Save the Children) “They hit me in the face with a gun, kicked me in my chest and stamped on my arms and legs. Then I was raped by three soldiers.” Shadibabiran*, female, 16 years old “The military came to our village. They started firing at people and my mother was shot in the ankle. “Then they asked all of the adolescent girls to stand up and asked us where our parents were. I told them that my father died 15 years ago. “They didn’t believe me and then some soldiers took me and two other girls into a house. “They hit me in the face with a gun, kicked me in my chest and stamped on my arms and legs. Then I was raped by three soldiers. They raped me for about two hours and at some stage I fainted. “They broke one of my ribs when they kicked me in the chest. It was very painful and I could hardly breathe. I still have difficulty breathing, but I haven’t been to a doctor, as I feel too ashamed.” “They gang-raped her in front of the whole village... She was only 14 years old” Wafaa*, female, 14 years old, gang-raped; recounted by Kushida*, female, 40 years old “When the military came to our village, two of the soldiers grabbed a teenage girl. Then they gang-raped her in front of the whole village. “Those who tried to help her were beaten up by the other soldiers. Then they started firing at people, so we ran to a nearby village. “Eventually the girl managed to run away and made it to the village where most of us had fled. She was in a very bad state. “Her parents had been killed trying to help her. So I washed her and I tried to treat her injuries. She was only 14 years old and she was bleeding heavily. After four days she died.” 8