For over a decade, Irfan Shofiq has lived as a refugee in Malaysia, but the sense of hopelessness and helplessness still grips him.
Unable to secure employment and watching his children grow up without access to education, he feels trapped in a cycle of despair.
Irfan is just one of the estimated 210,000 Rohingya refugees who sought safety in Malaysia after fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar. His journey, like so many others, began with harrowing experiences — being homeless, sleeping in the jungle and living in constant fear.
In 2017, the Rohingya began their massive exodus from Myanmar, fleeing what the United Nations has termed a campaign of "genocidal intent" launched by the military against the predominantly Muslim minority.
Irfan recalled how in 2021 he lost his father to the brutality of the Myanmar military.
"He was abducted from our home, beaten and tortured to death in custody. This tragedy is just one of countless atrocities suffered by the Rohingya. Today, thousands of Rohingya are internally displaced, with many more abducted, forcibly conscripted or killed by the Arakan Army and Myanmar military.
"Innocent lives are being lost to drone attacks on Rohingya civilians in Rakhine State. These ongoing horrors leave our people without access to basic healthcare, with pregnant women dying daily due to lack of medical care. The situation is beyond urgent."
As Irfan and other refugees navigate their uncertain future in Malaysia, their stories serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the resilience of those who endure it.
Irfan volunteers with Doctors Without Borders, or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), as a lay counsellor.
He said the most pressing needs of the Rohingya community in Malaysia included access to healthcare.
"Many, including survivors of human trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence, require psychiatric treatment.
"I facilitate their access to mental health services and help pregnant undocumented asylum seekers with healthcare.
"Despite facing hostile treatment at government hospitals and feeling insecure due to my refugee status, I remain committed to supporting my community.
"MSF also sends referrals to UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) for patients who need emergency medical help, security and protection."
Irfan is one of 109,650 Rohingya refugees registered with UNHCR, which provides only limited protection and no right to work. This includes multi-generational families who began arriving in significant numbers in the 1980s and 1990s, settling mainly in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
As a volunteer, Irfan receives support from international organisations such as MSF, which provides healthcare services to undocumented asylum seekers and refugees. But support for the community is limited, particularly in securing appointments and medical assistance from government hospitals.
Irfan hopes his family can be resettled in a third country where they can receive proper education and enjoy the freedom they deserve.
He calls on Malaysians and
the international community to recognise the dire circumstances faced by the Rohingya.
"I wish for international intervention to stop the violence in Rakhine State. The international community must advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, ensuring they receive protection and assistance. The time to act is now."
He advises young Rohingya individuals to educate themselves, as education is a powerful tool for change, and to become involved in community service to better understand the people's needs.