NO SAFE HAVEN majority of Rohingya are extremely poor. While this situation affects all members of the community, it creates specific protection concerns for children as it places them at increased risk of physical and sexual violence, child labour, unsafe migration and trafficking, and – especially for adolescent girls – early marriage. The dire situation facing Rohingya in Rakhine State is exacerbated by severe restrictions on humanitarian access. Access has been limited in the state (and other parts of the country) for years, and UN agencies and NGOs face a range of bureaucratic and cumbersome administrative processes in in order to undertake operations. This includes applying for official permission to travel to implement programmes and requirements to provide information about the dates and locations of travel. Failure to comply, or deviation from approved activities can result in the travel authorisation being revoked. This already limited access deteriorated still further after an outbreak of COVID-19 in the State from August 2020,64 and from 1 February 2021, most organizations suspended operations after the military seized power in a coup d’état. It remains unclear whether and under what terms humanitarian operations will be able to continue; however, the needs of children – and other vulnerable groups – remain. With the economy in crisis and gross domestic product (GDP) expected to contract by up to 20%,65 the country faces an imminent humanitarian crisis, and it is likely that needs for aid and other assistance will become even greater. With no improvements in the situation in Rakhine State, Rohingya have continued to try and flee, often journeying overland to Yangon, Myanmar’s main city. These journeys are extremely risky, and Rohingya are vulnerable to arrest and detention for 12 travelling ‘illegally’, as they do not have permission to leave Rakhine State. In recent years scored of Rohingya – including children, have been detained after attempting to travel outside of Rakhine State without permission.66 While some were charged with immigration-related offences, others were sent back to their homes and villages in Rakhine State, after being forced to accept NVCs. Rohingya children are also at risk of conflict-related violence. From early 2019 until mid-November 2020, there was a major escalation in conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, a mainly ethnic Rakhine armed group. Children from all communities were caught up in the conflict, vulnerable to injury or death as a result of indiscriminate artillery attacks and gun fire,67 while Rohingya children were also subjected to forced labour and portering.68 During the fighting, the Myanmar military failed to respect the civilian nature of schools, at times using them as temporary bases and barracks, or as interrogation sites.69 This not only puts the lives and physical safety of children at risk, it also restricts their access to education.70 While there has been a cessation of hostilities since mid-November 2020, all civilians (including children) remain at risk of injury or death due to landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other explosive remnants of war (ERW).71 Meanwhile, those responsible for atrocities against the Rohingya in 2016 and from 2017, as well as grave violations in Rakhine during the military AA-conflict, have yet to be brought to justice. Accountability will be essential for improving the situation for all communities in Rakhine State, it is also an essential component for creating conditions that are conducive to the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees from Bangladesh.

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