Support Rohingya refugee women

Dear {{FirstName or "Friend"}}, 

It’s been six years since almost 1 million Rohingya people - half of them children - have known what it’s like to be at home.

In August 2017, targeted violence in Myanmar resulted in the death of thousands of Rohingya people, prompting one of the largest exoduses in history and suddenly turning an entire population into a community of refugees. In Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, where they relocated, they continue to face emergency after emergency - from fire outbreaks to extreme weather that has caused the temporary camp to become a dengue fever hotspot.

Cox's Bazar Rohingya refugee camp, Bangladesh. In recent months, compounding emergencies within the camp have taken 250 lives, displaced 43,000 people, and damaged 4,200 shelters. Photo: Fabeha Monir/ActionAid

Despite these tremendous challenges, and amid drastic cuts in global funding for the Rohingya response, ActionAid remains committed to providing protection and life-saving services to the Rohingya people, until they no longer need the support.

As a supporter of our Rohingya Refugee response, we would like to share with you the story of Fatema, which highlights some of the work that we’ve been doing to support more than 230,000 women and girls in the camps over the past few years.

In addition to creating women-friendly spaces where women and girls can receive emotional support and medical referrals, ActionAid has been providing women and girls with livelihood training. 

Fatema, a Rohingya woman who lives in the heart of the refugees’ camp in Cox’s Bazaar, is a regular participant of these livelihood trainings. From tailoring to sewing machine repair, she has created several products that have been helpful in maintaining the safety of her community, like masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and reusable period pads for people who can’t afford to buy their own. Sometimes, she even sells these items to humanitarian agencies to make money.

Photo: Fabeha Monir/ActionAid 

Faresa, another participant of these trainings, has a greater hope for her future too: “I envision opening a tailoring shop, not only as a means of livelihood for my family but also as a platform to train other women and girls in the invaluable skill of tailoring.” 

Clothes made by Rohingya women during trainings at ActionAid’s women-friendly space in Cox’s Bazar.  Photo: Fabeha Monir/ActionAid 

Because of your support, ActionAid has been able to ensure that community-based programs like these remain a beacon of hope for the Rohingya people. On this six year anniversary, we want to thank you for your solidarity in the fight for human rights and a better future for those displaced by violence.