ENTRY DESCRIPTION
As of January 2018, about 1 million Rohingya refugee had fled the persecutions in Myanmar, settling in overcrowded informal camps near Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh. It is estimated over 580,000 are children. The lucky ones are with family who can protect them. Many have been separated from their family and are essentially fending for themselves and their younger siblings on their own. As these children move through their daily activities in the camps with eyes too old and serious for their age, one can only imagine what horrors and atrocities they have witnessed and endure on their journey here. The camps are organized informally among the hills outside of Cox Bazaar. Most of the trees has been striped and cut down to make space for the tents and to be use as building material and firewood. With the help of various international NGOs, shelters and latrines have been, pumps for fresh water are being provided, food and other daily needs are being handed out. There are strong military presence in the area to keep the refugees in their camps, although locals and reporters seems to be free to move in and out at this time. There has already been internal conflicts and violence within the camps as the refugee groups clash for territory rights and power as they try to self organize. With over 60% of the refugees being women and children, and with an estimated over 80,000 new borns this year, there is a disproportionately high population that are very vulnerable to health issues, violence and human trafficking. Although, there had been talks of resettlement back in Myanmar, it may take decades or a whole generation if negotiations goes through. In the meantime, with all the media coverage, foreign aid has made the lives of these refugees just bearable.

AUTHOR
International award winning documentary photographer Larry Louie leads a dual career. He is an optometrist in Canada and also a travel and documentary photographer who has managed to combined his interests to promote the work of different charities around the world. In his optometry clinic, he is Dr. Larry Louie, working to enhance the vision of people from all walks of life in the urban core of a North American city. On his travels, he is a humanitarian documentary photographer, exploring the lives of remote indigenous people, and documenting social issues around the world. As an optometrist, Larry adjusts people’s visual perception. As a photographer, he seeks to adjust people’s view of the world. Either way, he is interested in things that exist outside the regular field of vision.
Over the last couple of years, Dr. Louie has used his photography as a platform to high light the work of different charities around the world, along with other social issues and challenges people are encountering in a world facing rapid urbanization and globalization. He wants to engage people in inspiring stories of perseverance and strength, not only of those who have found themselves caught in such a plight, but also amazing individuals and organizations that are lending a helping hand. He hopes his photographs will be able to tell the stories and make a difference, and to reveal light that is found in the darkest of places.

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