Support Rohingya refugee women

In the world's largest refugee camp, Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, the stakes are high. ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir shares that, "There is a very real risk that the [COVID-19] virus could now spread like wildfire. People are living in incredibly close proximity and many could have been exposed."

That's why community-led efforts to educate and prevent the spread are so important. For years now, ActionAid has led a network of Women-Friendly Spaces, places in the refugee camp where Rohingya women and girls can come to feel safe, be in community, learn and lead. In the age of COVID, these spaces have become vital centers for community mobilization.

Anowara, pictured above, is one of the community leaders making masks through ActionAid's program. She shares, "We are all well trained how to keep ourselves safe during the time of coronavirus. It's hard for us because to buy soap we need money. Also getting clean water in the camp is difficult. But every time we come in the Women-Friendly Space, we clean ourselves.

"I am wearing the mask I made and everyone of my family is wearing masks that I made. Also, when I sell masks in my community, I realized I am helping them too.

"We are not safe if all of us do not maintain hygiene and distance. It's difficult to keep distance in our camp which is very cramped and over populated. But we are trying our best we that we can stay healthy. I fear coronavirus, but we have to fight against it."

Now more than ever, your commitment to human rights makes a difference - for Anowara and for thousands of Rohingya refugee women and girls. Thank you for your continued support and solidarity. 

You can learn more here about ActionAid's coronavirus response around the world.

Two years after fleeing extreme violence in Myanmar, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh continue to face incredible challenges.

Monsoon season has hit Rohingya refugee communities in Bangladesh hard. Since April, almost 20,000 households have been affected by landslides, storms, flooding, fires, and lightning.

Two camps in particular have seen extensive damage this past month due to flooding and strong winds. Hundreds of households there have been partially or fully destroyed, and thousands of individuals remain in at-risk areas.

Thanks to your generous support, our team has been working diligently on protecting the camps from future landslides by stabilizing surrounding land and soil, as well as tree plantation. We have also been relocating the families affected by these weather conditions, both within and outside of the camp. Finally, we have been developing an urgently needed drainage system for the camp in order to prevent the kinds of flooding we have seen in the past weeks.

You’ve made a huge difference for Rohingya refugees like Murshida. Murshida and her family live in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, and they were hit hard by the monsoon storms. Murshida’s son has a disability that makes it difficult for him to walk, especially with the damage to roads and water sources from the floods. But now, thanks to supporters like you, Murshida’s family has access to clean water near their home, even in times of flood.

Did you know that you can create a fundraiser on GlobalGiving for this project? We need your help to continue to support Rohingya refugee communities. Invite your family and friends to give today.