Umme Habiba, born in Myanmar to a family of three, cherishes a memory from her father, a Rohingya fisherman. His prized possession was a kerosene lamp (Serak) inherited from his grandfather. Amid the 2017 conflict and ensuing brutality, Umme Habiba’s family fled Buthidaung township for Bangladesh. Her father, realising he'd left the lamp behind, was distraught, as it held immense sentimental value. He once told Umme Habiba that the lamp was a beacon in life's darkest moments, echoing his grandmother's wisdom. After his passing, she kept the lamp close, drawing comfort and guidance from its light. Now living in a refugee camp, facing daily hardships and an uncertain future, Umme Habiba relies on her father's advice for strength. The lamp, a symbol of resilience, reminds her of the guidance it provided her father during his night fishing in Myanmar. 2023 © Umme Salma

Saiful displays the bullet scar on his neck, a brutal reminder of his escape from Myanmar. His physical wound healed, but the trauma lingers. 2023 © Sahat Zia Hero

“I want my country to recognize us as Myanmar citizens and give us our rights back which have been confiscated for many years. History will never forget when the Myanmar Junta tried to eradicate us.” —said MV Sayedullah. Aged 75, is from Myin Hlut village, in southern Maungdaw. His forefathers have been living in Rakhine for many decades. He and his family have different legal documents proving they belong in Arakan as citizens of Myanmar. The term Rohingya is written in every document. He is holding his identity cards including a National Registration Card (NRC) issued under the 1948 Citizenship Law in Myanmar. In the 1970’s, the NRCs were taken away by the government of Myanmar. In 1995, the Temporary Identity Cards—also called White Cards—were offered instead to the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. White Cards were then taken away and Rohingya were just offered White Card receipts. Neither White Cards nor the receipts were useful documents to the Rohingya people as citizens of Myanmar. The Rohingya identity crisis begun after the Myanmar Citizenship Law was passed in 1982. That was the root cause of several crises like forced migration, statelessness and the humanitarian crisis. © Ro Yassin Abdumonab

“I was once a young kid crying for food, but I am now happy and keen to participate in telling the story of my community. People will know that I am not voiceless.” —said 13 years old Md Hasson. Md Hasson is deaf-mute. He is featured on the cover of the first issue of Rohingyatographer Magazine holding a mobile phone showing a picture of himself crying desperately while climbing on an aid truck. He was only 8 years old when in August 2017, Canadian photographer Kevin Frayer took the photo while covering the massive exodus of the Rohingya fleeing into Bangladesh escaping the genocide. The photograph became an iconic representation of the suffering of Rohingya people featured in news articles across the globe and was shortlisted one of the 10 best photographs in 2017 by Time Magazine, obtaining a Pulitzer Prize in 2018. He has developed his own remarkable language of gestures to communicate with others. He would benefit from an education program tailored towards children with special needs, however, opportunities for those with different abilities are extremely limited in the refugee camp. © Sahat Zia Hero

Motolop was shot in 2017 when trying to cross the Naf river. His leg was amputated and he required medical treatment for two years. He is now settled with his family in the camps but worried about his future. ‘I have 7 children to feed and pay for their education. As a disabled person, how can I manage all these costs if I don’t have any income or livelihood?’ —said Motolop. He opened a small tea shop next to his shelter using his wife’s gold jewellery as investment capital. ‘It has been three years since I opened the tea shop but I can hardly cover my family’s living costs from the income I make with this business. In September, I was ordered to close the shop, so I worry that my livelihood will be destroyed and I will be unable to repay my debts.’ —said Motolop. 2022 © Ahtaram Shin

Md Salam is 8 years old and lives in Kutupalong Lambashiya camp. He was only 3 years old when the Myanmar military burned down his family home in Arakan. 2022 © Md Jamal

Abdul Ali, aged 36, captures the tragic fire that broke out in camp 5 on 8 March 2022 © Md Iddris

People rush to save their lives and property from the big fire in Balukhali camp on 22 March 2021 © Ro Yassin Abdumonab

“I took a photo of Zaudha crying while looking at what was left of her home. She had returned once the flames had stopped. With the smoke and heat, she was afraid to go down the hill to look for the spot where her home once was. She cried and shouted loudly: ‘Our lives have burnt!’. I didn’t have enough words to express my sadness to her. She was my neighbour, my home was beside her house. It was also destroyed. The smoke was all that was left of our homes.” —Sahat Zia Hero. Zaudha is 40 years old, like many Rohingya she will remember 22 March 2021 as the day the Great Fire broke out in the refugee camps. The fire came unexpectedly from many sides moving like a storm and turning everything in its path to ashes. 50,000 people lost their homes and many lives were lost to the fire. © Sahat Zia Hero

View of the gathering on Genocide Commemoration Day on 25 August 2019. The event was led by Mohib Ullah, an outspoken Rohingya leader and a brave and fierce advocate for the human rights of Rohingya Muslims around the world. Sadly on 21 September 2021 he was assassinated by gunmen. 2019 © Abul Kalam

ENOUGH A day becomes a week, a week comes a month, a month comes a year, years come and go, but the trauma in our hearts never goes away. Hot seasons change into rainy seasons. Cold seasons change into warmer seasons. The weather continuously changes but our situation remains the same. Seeds become plants, plants become trees, trees flourish into flowers, flowers become fruits, but our situation remains the same. Infants grow into children, Children become youths, Youths grow old, and our elders, in the graveyard end. We, Rohingya can go nowhere, our future remains the same. After 5 years in the camp, everything has changed except Rohingya's fate. Enough is enough! No more refugee life! © Ro Mon Sur Ali

Shomsul is 68 years old. He sits at his front door everyday and reads the Holy Quran. He doesn’t talk with his family or anyone; he only talks to God. He believes he was born to worship the Almighty. Neighbours comment he suffers from depression and he doesn’t sleep. He prays and reads the Quran all night. People respect him as a man of God. Like him, many Rohingya suffer from depression, they carry the trauma they experienced in the genocide in 2017. In faith, many Rohingya find the strength they need to survive refugee life. © Sahat Zia Hero

Meet HF Muhammed Ekram, and he is 11 years old, the lovely son of MV Muhammed Rofique and staying in the world's largest Rohingya Refugee camp in Bangladesh. Today he has achieved himself by memorising the Holy Quran within 1 year in the Rohingya camp. The Rohingya children and others don't get the orthodox chance and opening to study well under refuge camp. I feel proud of myself being a Rohingya photographer and getting a chance to write something about him. Every parents have a responsibility to give the educational rights of sons and daughters © Ro Rezaul Islam

'When something breaks, it begins to decay. The more it decays, the more it breaks. This is what happens in our camps. This is how it is for everything and everyone. This bridge is like the story of the Rohingya people, a story of crossing from one place to another, without much chance of returning back, an uncertain future ahead and the slowly deteriorating present.' 2021 © Sahat Zia Hero

Panoramic view of the Modur Chora river overflowing during the monsoon season. July 2021 © Sahat Zia Hero.

A child bails out water with a plate from his shelter during flood. July 2021. © Abul Kalam

People help each other to cross a stream in Balukhali. Normally the stream is dry but monsoon rains flooded it completely in 2021. © Ro Yassin Abdumonab

Under the gentle rain, a young girl leans against a tree, her quiet sanctuary. 2023 © Minara

To avoid getting wet in the rain, a boy covers himself with a huge taro leaf (Colocasia esculenta). Taro leaves are often mentioned in Rohingya proverbs, for example: Hoñsu fatat faaní fojjé fán alga alga tákó (Living apart just like water droplets on taro leaves). 2022 © Ro Yassin Abdumonab.

A group of children take a selfie using a sandal on a hilltop in Balukhali camp. 2022 © Ro Yassin Abdumonab.

Mohammad Taiyub is a 15-year old who built a small-scale hydraulic excavator from spare parts collected around the refugee camp. His engineering skills made him a young celebrity among the Rohingya community and his story has appeared in several news articles including The Dhaka Tribune and Reuters. ‘When I was in Myanmar, I saw an excavator digging and I was inspired to make a toy like this. I collected scraps of steel, plastic and wood to make the different parts and use syringes for the hydraulics to operate the arm mechanism up and down.’ —Toyub said. 2022 © Md Jamal

The young Rohingya boy grips two heavy jackfruits, his excitement palpable with each step. It's been ages since he tasted this fruit, a rare treat. The walk back from the market feels shorter, fueled by anticipation. He imagines sharing them with his family, a small joy amidst their challenges. The jackfruit, more than a fruit, is a symbol of hope and resilience for them. 2022 © Ro BM Hairu

Capturing the impact of humanitarian aid on Rohingya families. In 2022, a month's supply of food rations cost $12 per person, and in 2023, it was reduced to $8. This photo shows the collection of a month's supply of food rations from a WFP distribution center. 2022 © Ro Yassin Abdumonab

An elderly woman crafts ‘luri fira’, a traditional Rohingya rice cake, amid the observance of Qurban Eid Festival. In her hands, rice transforms into heritage. 2023 © Sabekur Nahar

Samia is 6 years old and she likes playing with chickens. 2021 © Md Jamal

Nur Asma is 10 years old. She lives in the refugee camp with her family. Nur Asma loves studying and being creative crafting utensils out of mud and bamboo. She is very introverted and plays silently by herself. She wants to create something new by herself and doesn’t want to copy others. She loves nature and cares for the earth. She hopes to have many trees in the camp because after the fire incidents many trees burnt down and people suffer a lot with the unbearable heat, especially in summer. She was inspired by her grandmother who also plants trees near their shelter, so she is doing the same though it seems like she is playing. ‘When I took this photo, I was amused seeing her playing like this with the trees. Can you imagine she collected all these water bottle tops to plant trees in them?’ This photo was published in The Guardian on 25 August 2022. © Ishrat Fori Imran

A Rohingya man carries his mother up a hill to go to the hospital. ‘When I asked, he replied with a smile that he is very happy and proud to serve his mother.’ 2022 © Mayuu Khan

Muhammad Jalil, aged 102, hails from Thaming Chaong, Rathedaung, and is among the eldest Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp. His life spans a century, witnessing pivotal moments like the Japanese-British conflict pre-Burmese independence. Jalil, thrice wedded, currently resides with his third wife, Bibi Ayesha. Jalil's first displacement in 1978 was during Myanmar's Naga Min operation, leading to property seizures, village demolitions, and mosque desecrations. Around 250,000 Rohingya, including Jalil, sought refuge in Bangladesh. After an 8-month stay in Kutupalong camp, he, alongside 180,000 others, returned to Myanmar. In 1991, Jalil faced refuge again due to the Tatmadaw's Phi Thaya operation, characterised by violence and village burnings. This forced 250,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh; though around 150,000, including Jalil, were repatriated, many stayed back. 2017 marked Jalil's third and most harrowing exile following the Tatmadaw's genocide. Approximately 725,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh. Currently, Jalil endures harsh camp conditions, longing to return to Myanmar. He poignantly states, "My eyes are dying to see my homeland once again. I want to die in my own country." 2021 © Hujjat Ullah

Onaysa Khan is only 3 months old. Her name in Arabic means ‘Good Friend’, the one who brings peace and calm to the heart. 2021 © Enayet Khan