Rohingya Rebels Plot Their Biggest Fight Yet - What the World Doesn't Want You to Know

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (Reuters) - As the world watches the Syrian refugee crisis unfold, another catastrophic event has been brewing in the shadows. In the world's largest refugee camps in Bangladesh, a quiet storm is brewing as Rohingya rebels prepare to fight back against their oppressors in Myanmar.

Rafiq, a lean and bearded man with a determined gaze, has been at the forefront of the resistance. In July, he made the perilous journey from his makeshift home in the refugee camp to the border of Myanmar. With a small group of rebels, Rafiq made his way into the country on a small boat, driven by one goal: to take back what the Rohingya consider rightfully theirs.

"We need to fight to take back our lands," Rafiq said in an interview, his voice laced with conviction. "The Myanmar government has committed atrocities against us for far too long, and we won't back down until we have justice."

Rafiq's story is one of many in the Rohingya community. The Rohingya, a mainly Muslim group, have been stateless for decades, and their plight has only worsened in recent years. In 2016, the group began fleeing Myanmar in droves, seeking refuge in neighboring Bangladesh. The United Nations has called the atrocities committed against the Rohingya a genocide, citing reports of rape, torture, and mass killings at the hands of the Buddhist-majority Myanmar military.

But the Rohingya are not backing down. Despite the odds against them, the community is mobilizing to fight back against their oppressors. Rafiq himself spent weeks fighting in Myanmar before returning to Bangladesh after being shot in the leg. His injuries were severe, but his resolve remains unbroken.

"I've seen some terrible things in my life," Rafiq said, a faint glimmer of sadness in his eyes. "But I won't give up until we have our homeland back. We deserve to live in peace and safety, just like anyone else in the world."

The Rohingya resistance movement is gaining momentum, with more and more people joining the fight every day. For many, the choice is clear: to continue living in poverty and fear in the refugee camps, or to take a stand and fight for their rights.

"We can't just sit back and wait for the world to help us," Rafiq said. "We have to take our future into our own hands and fight for what we want. We won't let anyone take away our chance at a better life."