Rohingya Media Fellows

Through powerful photos and thoughtful commentary, three young Rohingya refugees give us an inside look at what life is like inside the largest refugee camp in the world.

About the project

Doha Debates teamed up with human rights organization Fortify Rights to train three young Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh on the basics of photography and Instagram. These media fellows — Azimul Hasson, Dil Kayas and Omal Khair — were equipped with mobile phones and they’re now documenting their lives inside Cox’s Bazar, the largest refugee camp in the world. The project won the Shorty Social Good Award in the Immigration & Refugees category in November 2020.

Meet our fellows and follow their journey.

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A post shared by Doha Debates (@dohadebates) on Feb 5, 2019 at 9:13am PST

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A young Rohingya boy with face mask, sunglass and a hat standing in a refugee camp, Cox’s Bazar

A post shared by Azimul Hasson (@azimulhass) on Jul 1, 2020 at 1:06am PDT

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People and kids surrounding while a Rohingya singer playing violin inside the refugee camp

A post shared by Dil Kayas (@dilkayas) on May 7, 2019 at 10:04pm PDT

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A Rohingya woman is coming down from hilltop through the earthen stair in a refugee camp

A post shared by Dil Kayas (@dilkayas) on May 4, 2020 at 3:37am PDT

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A Rohingya man is showering water with a pot in a hand – pump area inside a refugee camp

A post shared by Omal Khair (@omalkha) on Jan 23, 2020 at 8:23am PST

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A Rohingya boy catches the setting sun on his little finger during the twilight in the camp

A post shared by Azimul Hasson (@azimulhass) on Apr 12, 2019 at 3:00am PDT

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Two Rohingya boys swaying with a traditional cradle hanging up to a big tree

A post shared by Dil Kayas (@dilkayas) on May 25, 2019 at 4:09am PDT

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Rohingya kids swaying themselves from the thatched-roof of a learning centre

A post shared by Omal Khair (@omalkha) on Feb 14, 2019 at 8:19pm PST

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Two Rohingya kids are sitting on hilltop and glaring at the width of the mega refugee camp in Cox's Bazaar

A post shared by Omal Khair (@omalkha) on Oct 31, 2019 at 12:08am PDT

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After several months of a government-imposed internet blackout, access has been restored. @azimulhass brings us the latest update. @azimulhass is a media fellow with @FortifyRights and @DohaDebates. @DohaDebates and @fortifyrights are supporting three young Rohingya refugees to help them develop storytelling skills with new video diary updates from the camps. Take a peek at life inside the world’s largest refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh by following @azimulhass and our other fellows, @omalkha and @dilkayas. #DearWorld #rohingya #refugees #refugeeswelcome #covid19 #coronavirus #refugeestories #rohingyas #humanrights

A post shared by Doha Debates (@dohadebates) on Sep 1, 2020 at 11:55am PDT

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A lack of access to information about the coronavirus has made social distancing a challenge for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar. @omalkha provides this update. @omalkha is a media fellow with @FortifyRights and @DohaDebates. Doha Debates and Fortify Rights are supporting three young Rohingya refugees to help them develop storytelling skills with new video diary updates from the camps. Take a peek at life inside the world’s largest refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, by following @omalkha and our other fellows, @dilkayas and @azimulhass #DearWorld #rohingya #refugees #refugeeswelcome #covid19 #coronavirus #bangladesh #refugeecamp #life #sip

A post shared by Doha Debates (@dohadebates) on Jun 9, 2020 at 9:17am PDT

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In the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, information is often shared through social media, but months-long restrictions on internet access has made it harder to communicate. Now that two suspected cases of coronavirus have appeared, Rohingya refugees are worried and afraid. Our media fellow @dilkayas provides this update. @dilkayas is a media fellow with @FortifyRights and @DohaDebates. @DohaDebates and @fortifyrights are supporting three young Rohingya refugees to help them develop storytelling skills with new video diary updates from the camps. Take a peek at life inside the world’s largest refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, by following @dilkayas and our other fellows, @omalkha and @azimulhass. #DearWorld #rohingya #refugees #refugeeswelcome #covid19 #coronavirus

A post shared by Doha Debates (@dohadebates) on May 20, 2020 at 2:31pm PDT

Watch Exodus

This documentary follows Omal Khair, Azimul Hasson and Dil Kayas as they learn to see their lives through a new lens — and offers the world a rare glimpse into what life is like for young Rohingya refugees.

Learn more about our fellows:

The Guardian: ‘I want to tell of our suffering’: Comms crackdown puts Rohingya on mute
Southeast Asia Globe: Rohingya photography: A life in pictures
South Asia Journalists Association: Rohingya fellows named photography finalists
Shorty Social Good Awards: Rohingya fellows win in Immigration & Refugees category