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More than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled their homes since August to escape systematic violence<\/a> at the hands of government soldiers in Myanmar. The U.N. has called the actions taken by Myanmar forces against the group \u201ca textbook example of ethnic cleansing.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n A report released by Amnesty International<\/a> on Wednesday documents widespread rape, killings and burnings of Rohingya across the Rakhine State in Myanmar. The report includes extensive interviews of Rohingya refugees who tell stories of live burnings, sexual violence and mass shootings at the hands of soldiers.<\/p>\n To escape persecution, Rohingya refugees are fleeing in droves<\/a> to neighboring Bangladesh, a country described by some as a reluctant host<\/a> for the thousands of refugees behind its borders. Conditions within Bangladesh show refugee camps beyond capacity<\/a>, as organizations struggle to keep up with humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n Find out more:<\/strong> Rohingya Muslims have been denied citizenship<\/a> in Myanmar since 1982, though they\u2019ve lived in the area since the 12th century. They are not considered one of the country\u2019s official ethnic groups. As such, their lack of official identity<\/a> bars them from government services and travel.<\/p>\n Officials from Myanmar, a majority Buddhist state, claim Rohingya are actually immigrants<\/a> from Bangladesh to justify their exclusion of the group. This most recent burst of violence comes from Myanmar\u2019s crackdown<\/a> following clashes with the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). After the government declared ARSA a terrorist organization, the retaliation escalated into hundreds of Rohingya villages.<\/p>\n Where to give:<\/strong> BRAC, a top-ranked NGO<\/a> based out of Bangladesh, is scaling up humanitarian efforts for clean water, health, sanitation and child care for refugees from Myanmar. You can learn more about their efforts here<\/a>.<\/p>\n An emergency appeal<\/a> was made by the Disasters Emergency Committee for immediate crisis relief funds. DEC distributes funds<\/a> to 13 member aid organizations. To give to starvation relief<\/a>, try Action Against Hunger<\/a> or the World Food Programme<\/a>.<\/p>\n Be sure to research organizations receiving your financial contributions, not only to find the best organization aligned with your goals, but also to avoid potential scams. For the latest information on aid organizations and charities, visit GuideStar<\/a> or Charity Navigator<\/a> to ensure your donations are going in the right direction.<\/em><\/p>\n
UNHCR<\/a>, UNICEF<\/a> and Save the Children<\/a> have donation pages dedicated to the crisis, as does the International Rescue Committee<\/a>. CNN\u2019s Public Good page<\/a> provides a user-friendly resource to find NGOs that match your giving goals.<\/p>\n