Myanmar’s Rakhine State is home to the Rohingya. It is the least developed state in the country with a poverty rate of 78% compared to the 37.5% national average, according to the World Bank. Government restrictions have been put in place against the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority group, on marriage, family planning, employment, education, religious freedom, and freedom of movement.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled persecution in Rakhine, fueling a humanitarian crisis. Most have fled to Bangladesh, which has limited land and resources. Some have also fled to Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Indonesia.