Water as a Weapon: Water Insecurity and the Politics of Genocide in Rohingya Settlements in Myanmar

This chapter explores the role of water security in the broader politics of genocide denial and non-recognition, specifically in the case of Rohingya settlements in Myanmar. It argues that denial of access to clean water and sanitation is not merely a consequence of displacement but an active tool of oppression, exclusion, and systematic marginalisation. The chapter critically examines how water scarcity is weaponised, both as a pre-genocidal and post-genocidal strategy in Rohingya refugee settlements in Myanmar. Drawing from water justice frameworks and human rights discourses, the study adopts a theoretical qualitative approach to highlight how international responses to the Rohingya crisis have failed to acknowledge water deprivation as a fundamental aspect of rights erosion. It further discusses how geopolitical interests and global refugee policies have exacerbated water insecurity in displacement camps and settlements, reinforcing systemic denial of water rights. By integrating case studies from genocide-affected areas facing water injustice in Myanmar, this chapter sheds light on the urgent need for recognising water security as a central human right in genocide prevention and post-genocide rehabilitation.