Disabled war refugees in Yangon report experiencing discrimination from the Myanmar junta’s forces. They claim that Rakhine disabled individuals and refugees from Rakhine are subjected to even greater discrimination.
These disabled war refugees reported that, despite successfully passing interviews for schools and jobs under the control of the
Myanmar junta, the responsible personnel often disabled former soldiers refuse to admit or provide opportunities for disabled Rakhine war refugees or those who have come from Rakhine. Instead, they are being turned away and excluded.
“I am a former outstanding student from that school. I passed the job interview, and even foreign representatives approved me. However, the school principal, a former soldier, rejected me simply because I am Rakhine,” a disabled Rakhine female war refugee told Border News Agency.
Additionally, disabled war refugees reported that those from Rakhine are being discriminated against in vocational training programs and job applications. They are denied training opportunities and jobs solely because they are from Rakhine, according to firsthand accounts from the affected individuals.
Disabled war refugees explained that nearly all of these vocational schools and workplaces are managed and led by former soldiers from the Myanmar military who hold key positions. They believe this has fostered ethnic bias and resentment, leading to discriminatory treatment even among disabled individuals themselves.
“I applied for a sewing job and successfully passed the interviews. However, just before being hired, the principal, a former soldier, rejected me because I am from Rakhine. I was discriminated against simply for holding a Rakhine ID,” a disabled female war refugee in Yangon told Border News Agency.
War refugees in Yangon face severe hardships as they lack access to assistance, education opportunities, and employment. As a result, they struggle to meet basic needs such as food and shelter, live without security, and endure extreme difficulties in sustaining their livelihoods, according to disabled war refugees.
Disabled war refugees in Yangon report living in unsafe conditions, which leave them too afraid to use rental vehicles for transportation. They also face difficulties commuting on public buses and struggle with climbing the stairs of high-rise apartments they rent. These challenges add to their already precarious situation.
Due to these challenges, many wish to return to Rakhine, but restrictions imposed by the Myanmar junta and ongoing airstrikes make their return uncertain. At the same time, staying in Yangon is fraught with numerous hardships. As a result, disabled war refugees are appealing for support from the international community to help alleviate their suffering.
Since the military coup, targeted shootings, landmines, and other military weapons used by the junta have led to an increase in the number of disabled individuals across Myanmar, including in Rakhine, according to advocates working on disability issues.
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the World Health Organization stated that services providing support and assistance must be accessible to disabled individuals. It emphasized the need to address their specific needs in order to provide proper care and help them rebuild their lives.
