Environmental Migration Project

Select an event that occurred due to environment-triggered human migration in the past decade. Environmental triggers include natural disasters such as tsunamis, floods, famines, and pandemics or human-created emergencies such as wars, genocides, and religious persecutions. Research literature on it and answer the following prompts using the template. Must use at least 2-3 scholarly resources on the incident.
• Summarize the information in the reading. (One paragraph of 5-6 sentences)
• Identify whether the environmental migration is due to a natural disaster or human-made emergency, and if it is intranational or international. (1-2 sentences)
• In the example, which social factors intersected and impacted the environmental migration? (Two paragraphs, each 5-6 sentences)
• Discuss 2-3 physical and mental health impacts of environmental migration on people. Next, how do you view your role as a healthcare professional in advocating for people displaced by an environmental migration? (Two paragraphs of 5-6 sentences each)

Full Answer Section

    Environmental Factors Contributing to the Crisis:
  • Land Degradation and Deforestation: Decades of unsustainable logging and agricultural practices in Myanmar's Rakhine state led to severe land degradation and deforestation. This resulted in soil erosion, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters like floods and landslides.
Opens in a new windowwatchers.news Deforestation and Erosion in Myanmar
  • Climate Change: Rising sea levels and intensifying weather patterns, likely exacerbated by climate change, further threatened the Rohingya's coastal communities. This increased their exposure to storm surges and saltwater intrusion, jeopardizing their livelihoods and food security.
Opens in a new windowearth.org Rising Sea Levels in Myanmar
  • Resource Scarcity: The environmental degradation and population pressure led to competition for scarce resources like water and arable land. This fueled tensions between the Rohingya and the majority Buddhist population, contributing to the violence and displacement.
Mass Exodus and Ongoing Challenges:
  • 2017 Exodus: In August 2017, a military crackdown by the Myanmar government in response to Rohingya insurgent attacks triggered a mass exodus of over 700,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh. They fled to makeshift camps in Cox's Bazar, facing dire humanitarian conditions and uncertain futures.
Opens in a new windowen.wikipedia.org Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
  • Uncertain Repatriation: Despite international pressure, the Myanmar government has been reluctant to allow the Rohingya's safe and dignified return. This prolonged displacement has created a protracted refugee crisis in Bangladesh, straining resources and testing the international community's commitment.
  • Environmental Challenges in Bangladesh: The influx of refugees has also placed significant environmental pressure on Bangladesh, with concerns about deforestation, water scarcity, and sanitation issues. This highlights the interconnectedness of environmental degradation, conflict, and displacement.
Lessons Learned and Future Considerations:
  • Addressing Environmental Root Causes: The Rohingya crisis underscores the need to address environmental degradation and resource scarcity as drivers of conflict and displacement. Sustainable resource management and climate change adaptation strategies are crucial for preventing future humanitarian crises.
  • Promoting Peaceful Resolution: The Myanmar government must be held accountable for its human rights violations against the Rohingya and work towards a peaceful resolution that ensures their safe return and equal rights.
  • International Collaboration: The international community must continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and pressure Myanmar to uphold its human rights obligations. Collaborative efforts are needed to address the environmental factors contributing to displacement and build long-term resilience in vulnerable regions.
The Rohingya crisis serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between environmental degradation, conflict, and displacement. By understanding these connections and taking decisive action, we can work towards a future where environmental sustainability and human rights are protected, preventing similar tragedies from unfolding. Note: This is a brief overview of the Rohingya crisis and its environmental dimensions. You can expand on this information by including additional details, statistics, and examples to create a more comprehensive and insightful analysis for your 2000-word assignment. Remember to use credible sources to support your claims and provide diverse perspectives on this complex issue.  

Sample Answer

 

One of the most significant events of human migration triggered by environmental factors in the past decade is the ongoing Rohingya crisis. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in Myanmar, have faced systematic persecution and violence for decades, culminating in mass displacement starting in 2017. While political and ethnic tensions played a major role, environmental degradation and resource scarcity were significant contributing factors to their displacement.