Support Rohingya refugee women

One year ago, thousands of Rohingya people were killed when violence erupted in North Rakhine state, Myanmar. The survivors became refugees, fleeing their home on foot, carrying all that they had, for an exhausting journey across the border to Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh.

One year ago, they arrived at the refugee camp and met ActionAid. Through your generous support, we worked together to tackle unimaginable problems: coordinating support for survivors of trauma, creating watch groups to protect women from gender-based violence in the camps, digging tube wells and building private toilets and bathing facilities for women’s safety, distributing blankets to keep children warm during the winter chill, and rebuilding family shelters after monsoon floods.

This crisis is far from over. The Rohingya people are still stuck in limbo, away from their homes in Myanmar, living in shelters and using cooking and sanitation facilities that are meant to be temporary – and new refugees are arriving at the camp every day.

Sometimes I worry that people have stopped caring.

We can’t let that happen.

I think about Dr. Fatema Akter, who, through the generosity of supporters like you, counsels up to 80 Rohingya trauma survivors every single day, listening to their stories and helping them heal.

“I feel very emotional and cry when I hear these stories,” she says. “They’re unforgettable. I never thought I would hear anything like this. I try not to cry in front of them but sometimes I can’t control myself … It is my profession to help them.”

I can’t imagine how much strength it takes for Dr. Akter to do this work, day after day. Her unyielding care for this community of Rohingya refugees inspires me to do more to support her and the remarkable Rohingya survivors from afar. I won’t give up on the Rohingya, will you?

Donate now to support Rohingya refugees.

We’re in this for the long haul. It’s not glamorous, and it doesn’t make the headlines any longer, but that’s exactly when we need you most.

Thank you for being there.

In gratitude,

Marie