For the Rohingya people, 25 August is not simply a date. It is a day connected to memories of fear, loss, separation and forced displacement. It is the beginning of one of the largest and most devastating episodes of displacement in recent history, when violence erupted across northern Rakhine State in Myanmar and hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were forced to flee their homes.

Eight years later, the events of 25 August 2017 are still present in the memories of survivors. The day changed the lives of an entire community and created a humanitarian crisis whose consequences continue to be felt till today.

What Happened on 25 August 2017?

In the early hours of 25 August 2017, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) carried out coordinated attacks on security posts and other locations in northern Rakhine State. These events were followed by a large-scale military operation and widespread violence against Rohingya communities across Rakhine State, resulting in mass displacement and the flight of more than 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh.

For Rohingya civilians, what followed was devastating.

Villages were attacked and burned, civilians were killed, families were separated and large numbers of people were forced to flee. Rohingya people have come through horrific experiences of violence, including killings, sexual violence and the destruction of homes and villages.

The violence quickly spread across northern Rakhine State. Within days and weeks, the number of people fleeing Myanmar increased dramatically. Roads, rivers and hills became routes of escape for families desperately seeking safety.

According to UNHCR, more than 720,000 Rohingya refugees fled to Bangladesh following the violence that began on 25 August 2017. More than half of those who arrived were children.