Who Are The Rohingya?

Myanmar's Rakhine state and surrounding nations

The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority from Rakhine State in western Myanmar. For generations, they have faced devastating discrimination and ethnic violence at the hands of the Myanmar government, which denies that they are rightful citizens under a 1982 nationality law. By systematically confiscating Rohingya’s identification documents throughout the 1970s, the government has been able to deny the ethnic group their national citizen rights ever since.  Though most of the Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for centuries, the current government does not officially recognize them as one of Myanmar’s 135 ethnic groups. 

The marginalization has escalated into wave after wave of state-sponsored, ethnic-based violence, exacerbated by government propaganda campaigns that frame the Rohingya as “illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.” The most severe attacks came in 2017, when a brutal military crackdown forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, creating one of the world’s largest refugee crises. Today, many Rohingya live in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, while others have sought refuge in countries across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.

In Malaysia’s Penang State, many Rohingya — abandoned by their nation of origin — remain undocumented and without legal protection. Without completing the lengthy refugee registration process with UNHCR, Rohingya in Malaysia are vulnerable to exploitation and lifetime detentions. Families also face significant barriers to healthcare and education, especially higher education.

Despite the traumas and challenges, Rohingya families continue to strive for a better, stable future for their children. Breathe Life walks alongside these families, especially mothers and children. Well-supported women are central to a child’s healthy development. Through maternal health education, prenatal and postnatal care, and doula services, Breathe Life equips Rohingya mothers with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to care for themselves and their children. Our programs create safe, informed spaces where mothers can ask questions, receive guidance, form supportive networks, and give their little ones a stronger chance to thrive.