Scenes From Myanmar's Slums

In Myanmar's northern state of Rakhine, some 800,000 people live without protections and without rights.

The state is home to the Rohingya. The Muslim group is descended from South Asia and speak Bengali. However, they have no  official state. Many live in Myanmar under severe government restrictions. They cannot travel or marry and have limited access to education and healthcare. Experts believe this opprssion has fueled the outburst of violence between Buddhist and Muslim communities that left a number of dead and houses burnt on both sides. 

Below, photos of life for the Rohingya:

Myanmar Rohingya people pass the time at their slum near the sea in the town of Sittwe. Photo credit: Damir Sagolj/Reuters
 

Naked Myanmar Rohingya children make their way though a slum. Photo credit: Damir Sagol/Reuters

A Myanmar Rohingya child looks through holes in fence around a mosque in their slum in Sittwe. Photo credit: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

A Myanmar Rohingya girl wears traditional make-up at the village of Takebi north of the town of Sittwe. Photo credit: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

A Myanmar Rohingya fisherman rests on his boat in a slum near the sea in the town of Sittwe. Photo credit: Damir Sagolj/Reuters