During the morning of the massacre day, Fatima, pregnant with her fourth child
Fatima, a 45-year-old woman survivor of the Rohingya genocide that took place in Rakhine, Myanmar, in 2012, is currently facing the repercussions of the horrific events against the Rohingya ethnic minority. A collaboration between the Rakhine people and the military carried out the genocide. In November of that year, an intended series of brutal attacks occurred in Aykab, the millennium-long home of Fatima and her ancestors. On that fateful day, Rakhine forces, along with the military, initiated a systematic massacre targeting Rohingya individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly. The atrocities included shootings, rapes, stabbings, and the widespread burning of village after village.
During the morning of the massacre day, Fatima, pregnant with her fourth child, sought refuge in a local clinic to deliver the baby. Later that evening, she gave birth to a baby girl. Eventually, on that evening, Rakhine and the military arrived nearer to the clinic after finishing their surrounding massacre. Fortunately, Fatima, her husband, and their newborn managed to escape the impending danger at the clinic by paying substantial compensations to the guards and staff just before the facility was set ablaze. That night, with fresh perineum wounds and a newborn, Fatima, her husband, and their new baby attempted to reach the safety of her mother’s home, four kilometers away. Unfortunately, late at night, they were surrounded by the Burmese military and Rakhine forces.
As of now, Fatima continues to suffer from the lasting effects of the genocide
Luck was not on their side, and they were captured at her mother’s house. Earlier, in a pre-planned move, a younger child and the newborn had been hidden near a courtyard bush under a blanket. Just before their final attempt to escape, Rakhine mobs arrived, blocking the house exit. Tragically, Fatima’s 60-year-old mother was brutally attacked and chopped with cleavers, and Fatima witnessed the horrifying scene from her hiding place. Her husband narrowly escaped, sustaining injuries to his hands, but managed to reach the hidden children in the courtyard bush.
In an attempt to save her life and the lives of her two remaining children, Fatima followed her husband’s advice to escape. Despite severe injuries to her thigh from a cleaver, she miraculously evaded death. However, upon returning, she discovered her two children left behind in the house had been brutally killed. The wounds she sustained during the genocide led to various health issues, including contracting hepatitis B.
Lately, In 2012, Fatima, along with her husband and two children, fled to Malaysia and sought asylum. Since then, they have faced financial and medical challenges. Fatima’s health deteriorated over time, and her family struggled to survive in Malaysia. In 2023, Hafsa Khanom, the founder of RRW, learned about Fatima’s plight and extended assistance. Fatima was subsequently included in RRW’s women’s empowerment project, where she, despite being illiterate, is gradually acquiring skills such as reading, writing, and basic calculation. Additionally, she regularly participated in RRW’s workshops to develop sewing and handicraft-making skills.
As of now, Fatima continues to suffer from the lasting effects of the genocide, and her health is rapidly declining. RRW, a newly established organization with a lack of funds, is struggling to support Fatima in need adequately. Through this article, RRW aims to raise awareness and seek assistance for Fatima and her family.
