The Rohingya refugee situation varies significantly across Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan, reflecting different challenges and opportunities for this displaced group.
In Thailand, around 10,000 Rohingya refugees live scattered across the country, with many having resided there for 20-30 years. Despite their long stay, some recent arrivals, particularly those who were victims of the 2015 trafficking crisis, remain in administrative detention. These individuals, once trapped in traffickers’ camps in southern Thailand, now await resettlement to third countries, facing an uncertain future.
In Indonesia, a few thousand Rohingya refugees live in limbo, stranded after being intercepted en route to Australia. These refugees, often waiting 5-7 years for resettlement, face severe restrictions. They are forbidden to work and rely entirely on limited UNHCR aid for survival, which leaves them in a precarious and dependent state.
In contrast, Japan provides a comparatively stable environment for the fewer than 1,000 Rohingya refugees living there, primarily in Tatebayashi, north of Tokyo. Many work in the second-hand car export business to Myanmar, and their children have access to public education. With proper housing and opportunities to integrate, the Rohingya community in Japan enjoys a level of stability absent in other host countries. However, their numbers remain small.
Rohingya refugee recently released from 2 years detention on immigration charges for entering Thailand illegally, showing his and his brother's detention cards. They remain to date illegally in Thailand and face every day the risk of being arrested. Songkhla, Thailand, May 2017
Rohingya girl reading her school book, Makassar in the Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 2017
Transit Camp for persons victim of human traffickers. About 100 people of which 30 Rohingya children and adults. Closed structure with no possibility for exit or visits. Victims usually remain several years before being resettled in third countries. Tanyaburi closed transit facility, Bangkok, Thailand. June 2016
Rohingya children in a collective centre for refugees in a remote part of Indonesia. Makassar in the Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 2017
Remains of death camps where thousands of Rohingya have been held at ransom before being trafficked further to Malaysia or killed. Many have been killed or left for dead in remote jungle camps where they would be held until family back in Myanmar would pay a ransom for their liberty. If not caught by Thai border guards they would make it to Malaysia otherwise they would be killed or end up in State detention centres. The camps where discovered and destroyed in 2015. Jungle near the Thai/Malay border in Hat Yai region, Southern Thailand, May 2017
About 200 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar live in Tatebayashi near Tokyo. Most of them arrived more than 10 years ago and work in the car recycle business. Tatebayashi, Japan, January 2017
Teenager Rohingya girl revising before returning to school after the Eid holidays. Collective centre for refugees in Makassar in the Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 2017
Rohingya refugee after his shift in the chicken processing factory in the background. Bangkok, Thailand, June 2016
Rohingya refugee recently released from 2 years detention on immigration charges after having spent several month in the human traffickers' death camps in the jungle. After being released from prison he was deported to the border with Myanmar, facing certain persecution and even death he remained illegally in Thailand and returned to Southern Thailand where he hopes he find a way to finally reach Malaysia. Songkhla, Thailand, May 2017
Rohingya girl enrolled at a school run by Foundation for Eductaion and Development in Southern Thailand. Phang-Nga, Thailand, October 2016
Sultan, a Rohingya refugee already 30 years in exile, preparing roti at home. Nakoneyok, Thailand, June 2016
Rohingya girl and her mother stranded in Indonesia while trying to reach Australia. Now hoping to be re-settled in a third country since Australia has shut its borders for refugees and migrants. Medan, Indonesia, October 2016
Burmese market in Bangkok where migrants and refugees from Myanmar find a piece of home. Bangkok suburbs, Thailand, June 2016
Playtime at a school for Burmese refugees and migrants in Southern Thailand, Phang-Na, Thailand, October 2016
Sultan a stateless Rohingya in exile in Thailand, Nakoneyok village near Bangkok, June 2016
Rohingya refugee girl from Myanmar living with her family in Jakarta and waiting to be re-settled in a third country by IOM and UNHCR. Depok suburb near Jakarta, Indonesia, January 2017
Most of refugees are sheltered in collective centres in Indonesia, usually sharing one room per family. Despite being provided shelter and a minimal allowance, refugees are not allowed to work in Indonesia at the risk of being jailed. Most Rohingya escaped persecution from Myanmar to try to find shelter in Australia in the aftermath of the 2012 violance, since then Australia has sealed its borders leaving everybody stuck on the way in Indonesia. Makassar in the Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 2017Makassar in the Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 2017
A mixed Rohingya Rakhine couple living in exile in Bangkok with their four year old son. Rangsit, Banggkok, Thailand, June 2016
Transit Camp for persons victim of human traffickers. About 100 people of which 30 Rohingya children and adults. Closed structure with no possibility for exit or visits. Victims usually remain several years before being resettled in third countries. Tanyaburi closed transit facility, Bangkok, Thailand. June 2016
Rohingya refugees playing in front of their building, Tatebayashi, Japan, January 2017
About 200 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar live in Tatebayashi near Tokyo. Most of them arrived more than 10 years ago and work in the car recycle business. Tatebayashi, Japan, January 2017
Rohingya refugees praying during the break of fast. Transit Camp for persons victim of human traffickers. About 100 people of which 30 Rohingya children and adults. Closed structure with no possibility for exit or visits. Victims usually remain several years before being resettled in third countries. Tanyaburi closed transit facility, Bangkok, Thailand. June 2016
Playtime at a school for Burmese refugees and migrants in Southern Thailand, Phang-Na, Thailand, October 2016
Rohingya family stranded in Indonesia since 2013 after several unsuccessful atempts to reach Australia by boat, Makassar in the Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 2017
Burmese migrant worker from Rakhine employed in the rubber plantations of Southern Thailand. Khaolak area, Thailand, October 2016
Boy enrolled in a school for refugee and migrant's children from Myanmar. Phang-Na near Khaolak in Southern Thailand, October 2016
Stateless Rohingya refugees stuck in Indonesia since 2013 and waiting re-settlement in third countries. Medan, Indonesia, October 2016
Rohingya refugee in a collective centre waiting for re-settlement in a third country. Most of Rohingya refugees in Makassar have been waiting for over 7 years to receive any news of an unlikely re-settlement having an adverse impact on their mental health state. Collective centre for refugees in Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. November 2018
Stateless Rohingya refugees stuck in Indonesia since 2013 and waiting re-settlement in third countries. Medan, Indonesia, October 2016
Stateless Rohingya girl stuck in Indonesia with her parents after trying to reach Australia in 2013. Medan, Indonesia, October 2016
Mohamad, one of the first Rohingya refugees to have settled in Cambodia. He is now a succesful businessman helping out the very small Rohingya community when he can. Phnom Penh, Cambodia, December 2016
Mother and son stranded in Indonesia. The husband managed to reach Australia by boat, she was arrested and jailed for a year. Without resources she has been waiting for the past 3 years for family reunion without success until now. Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia, October 2016
A Rohingya refugee from Myanmar and his two daughters few days before being re-settled in Kansas, USA. Refugee centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 2017
Rohingya refugee girl from Myanmar living with her family in Jakarta and waiting to be re-settled in a third country by IOM and UNHCR. Depok suburb near Jakarta, Indonesia, January 2017
Home of Rohingya refugees in Japan with children following the Japanese eductaion system. Weekly school subjects. Tatebayashi, Japan, January 2017
Rohingya children watching television at home. All grew up in Japan after their parents moved their from Myanmar. Tatebayashi, Japan, January 2017
Rohingya children growing up in Japan after their father came nearly 20 years ago in Japan as an asylum seeker. Tatebayashi, Japan, January 2017
Abul Kalam waiting for the makeshift mosque to open. Tatebayashi near Tokyo where approximately 200 Rohingya refugees live, Japan, January 2017
Most of refugees are sheltered in collective centres in Indonesia, usually sharing one room per family. Makassar in the Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, June 2017
Rohingya refugee children playing in a restrained area within the collective centre where they reside with their parents awaiting a long over due resettlement in a third country. Most Rohingya caught up in Indonesia where on their way trying to reach Australia in 2012. They live in limbo ever since . Makassar in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, November 2018
