Assist Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

 Dear Supporter,

Thanks in part to your support, Concern continues to respond to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. A needs assessment in October of 2018 illustrated the need for lighting in the camps. A lack of adequate lighting puts people, especially women and children, in danger when moving around the camp after dark. It also interferes with children’s ability to study and the productivity of their parents after dark. Based on the identified needs, Concern Worldwide carried out a solar light distribution in November of 2018. Today. I want to share with you the story of one of the families who received a solar light.

Marzaan has nine children (6 boys and 3 girls), and is originally from the Rakhine state of Myanmar. She and her children now stay in refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

“When I arrived in Bangladesh, my only belongings were my nine children. I came across the Shah Pori Island after the military attack at my village. The Burmese army set fire to the brush and five people were shot dead, including my husband Mohammad Shafi.”

Marzaan had a house, several small businesses, and a happy family before she became a refugee. Upon fleeing her village with her children, she walked for five days until finding the route towards Bangladesh. After staying at a relative’s house for a couple of days, she sold her last pair of gold earrings to buy a piece of plastic sheet and travel to the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. She secured her shelter in the camp and stayed there for thirteen months. When heavy monsoons caused a landslide, Marzaan and her family had to transfer camps and lost some of their possessions.

Marzaan and her family were selected to receive a solar light through Concern’s solar light distribution program due to the face that she was a single woman with many children to support. Marzaan was very relieved to receive the light, as she had been worried about the safety of her children, especially her daughters, after dark.

She describes, “My daughters were scared to go to the latrine after dark. All of them were unable to study at night as I had no light in the house. I didn’t know how to light up the house adequately without electricity.”

Thanks in part to your contributions, families like Marzaan and her children have solved their lighting crisis, and are now able to live safer and more full lives.

Dear Supporter,

The Rohingya continue to live in makeshift refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Although they have made it through the monsoon season, the danger has not yet passed, and many people still call these camps home.

Lukia* (18) grew up in the Jalipara region of Rakhine State with her three sisters and brother. Her father was a fisherman, who provided for her whole family. They had no land or livestock but lived peacefully and could even afford to eat meat two or three times a month. She married just one week before the conflict broke out.  

Lukia was not inside her family home when it was attacked by the Myanmar army, who used a rocket launcher to set it on fire. Her parents, brother and husband sadly were inside, and died instantly. Lukia managed to escape her village without capture and spent two days walking to safety with her neighbours, who also suffered loss at the hands of the Myanmar army.

After they arrived at a river, they hoped to get a boat to safety, but Lukia was denied access, since she had no money to pay the boatmen. At this point, Lukia hadn't eaten for two days and had no choice but to stay and wait in a tent with strangers for almost two weeks.

During this time, Lukia managed to send information on her whereabouts to her eldest sister, who had already fled to safety in Bangladesh. It didn’t take long for her sister and nephew to reach the border and bring her with them by boat. Despite this, Lukia still feared the Myanmar army would capture her. Those fears didn’t subside until she finally reached the refugee camp safely.

Upon arrival, Lukia was given mats, blankets, soap and a water container from Concern Worldwide. Although Lukia feels safe in the camp, she’s not allowed to work, so she receives no income. She only eats rice, daal and, on occasion, dried fish. She dreams of returning home to Myanmar when the bitter conflict ends. Until then, she is grateful for the safety and care that she is provided in the camp.

Thanks in part to your support, women like Lukia can begin the process of rebuilding their lives in relative safety and comfort.