A Malaysian aid ship has docked in the Bangladeshi port of Chittagong and unloaded supplies for thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled from Myanmar, many citing abuses by the country's security forces.
IBTimes UK shares these photos by award-winning American photojournalist Allison Joyce, who has been covering the plight of the Rohingya for Getty Images.
The Nautical Aliya unfurls banners as it arrives in Chittagong, BangladeshAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesThe crew of the Nautical Aliya provides relief to Rohingya refugees in ChittagongAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesPeople living in the Leda Rohingya refugee camp carry relief supplies donated by the crew of the Nautical AliyaAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesRohingya refugees clamour for relief supplies donated by the crew of the Nautical Aliya in the Leda camp in ChittagongAllison Joyce/Getty Images
The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in predominantly-Buddhist Myanmar, also known as Burma. They are concentrated in western Rakhine State, which is adjacent to Bangladesh. Their numbers have been estimated at about 1.3 million.
The UN says the Rohingya are one of the most persecuted groups in the world. Neither Bangladesh nor Myanmar recognises them as citizens. In Buddhist-majority Myanmar, even the name Rohingya is taboo. Myanmar officials refer to the group as "Bengalis" and insist they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though most have lived in the country for generations.
People stand outside their shelters in Kutapalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, BangladeshAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesA girl carries a water jug in Kutapalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, BangladeshAllison Joyce/Getty Images
Nearly 70,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled into Bangladesh since Myanmar security forces responded to attacks on border posts four months ago. The recent wave of refugees has joined more than 200,000 Rohingya already living in official and makeshift camps. Bangladesh says the refugees bring crime and a risk of disease.
The ship's crew sorts aid on board the Nautical Aliya in Chittagong, BangladeshAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesThe crew of the Nautical Aliya provides relief to Rohingya refugees in ChittagongAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesRohingya refugees gather for aid supplies as the crew of the Nautical Aliya distributes food and hygiene supplies at Balu Khali camp in ChittagongAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesRohingya refugees gather in the Leda camp in Chittagong, hoping to get relief supplies donated by the crew of the Nautical AliyaAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesRohingya refugees gather as the crew of the Nautical Aliya distributes food and hygiene supplies at Kutapalong refugee camp in ChittagongAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesRohingya refugees carry aid supplies donated by the Nautical Aliya crew at the Balu Khali camp in ChittagongAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesPeople unpack relief supplies donated by the crew of the Nautical Aliya in the Leda Rohingya refugee campAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesRohingya refugees unpack relief supplies donated by the crew of the Nautical Aliya in the Leda camp in ChittagongAllison Joyce/Getty Images
Witnesses had testified to "the killing of babies, toddlers, children, women and elderly; opening fire at people fleeing; burning of entire villages; massive detention; massive and systematic rape and sexual violence; deliberate destruction of food and sources of food," the report said.
Nojiba poses in her makeshift house that she shares with 14 other refugees in Kutalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. She says two Myanmar soldiers took turns raping herAllison Joyce/Getty ImagesJamalida, 16, is seen in her makeshift house in Kutalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. She says she was raped repeatedly by the military in MyanmarAllison Joyce/Getty Images
The violence has dismayed and outraged some of Myanmar's neighbours with mostly Muslim Malaysia being particularly vociferous in its criticism. It has supported Muslim groups and aid organisations to arrange the shipment of more than 2,000 tons of food, medicines and other supplies.
Malaysian flags fly as the crew waves from the Nautical Aliya in Chittagong, Bangladesh.Allison Joyce/Getty ImagesIOM staff and the crew of the Nautical Aliya unload aid from the Malaysian ship in Chittagong, BangladeshAllison Joyce/Getty Images
Myanmar's military says it has now ended the security operation in the country's troubled Rakhine State. More than 1,000 Rohingya Muslims may have been killed in the crackdown, two senior UN officials dealing with refugees fleeing the violence told Reuters last week.
