Support Children in the Rohingya Refugee Crisis

Dear Friend,

The plight of the Rohingya refugees remains dire. As 12-year old Umme recounts, “Houses were burning and there were rocket launchers. Killing people after arresting them. They were burning villages and we couldn’t move. We couldn’t go to the forest or fish, so we couldn’t eat. That’s why we fled."

Right now, the global community has come together to create the largest refugee camp in the world, housing more than 700,000 people. There are health centers, vaccinations, psychosocial support, child-friendly centers throughout, and an elementary educational system. It’s a massive, coordinated effort by government and non-governmental organizations to provide relief at a time when it’s needed most.

Umme’s story is one no child should tell. Yet, it’s an all-too-familiar one in the Bangladesh refugee settlements.

UNICEF is mobilizing to keep Rohingya children safe, healthy and dry during the monsoon season. Vital infrastructure is being reinforced and medical supplies prepositioned to handle the threat of illnesses like cholera — an acute diarrheal disease that can kill a child within hours if not treated. The water supply is being protected, and supplies families will need to keep their water safe and clean — hygiene kits, water purification tablets, chlorine, soap and buckets — stockpiled. Vaccination teams are administering the oral cholera vaccine to 1.1 million people, and community volunteers are fanning out to educate families on how to protect themselves.

Here are some actions you can take:

• Share the story of a Rohingya refugee child, click here.
• Donate to this project to provide life-saving support.

More financial resources are needed to support this mobilization. Please take action and engage your community for the Rohingya refugee children.

Thank you for putting children first.

Links:

• Umme's Story

Dear Friend,

The pre-monsoon rains have started in Cox’s Bazar, which is one of the most flood prone areas of Bangladesh. On the night of the 26th April, a storm damaged shelters and affected several families in refugee camps.  

Recently, during intense winds before the rains, and during the storm, many children were seen sitting on top of their family’s shelters in an attempt to keep the plastic roof tops from blowing away.

We estimate that more than 100,000 people, including approximately 55,000 children, are at risk due to floods and landslides. It’s possible that this figure could go up to 200,000 people depending on the intensity of rains.  

During monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, the overall health and wellbeing of Rohingya refugee children is affected. Increase risk of infectious disease, poor water and sanitation hygiene, and injury impact children whose immune systems are already weakened by acute malnutrition. Children are also at risk of getting separated from their families due to inundations and mudslides. 

As UNICEF works to reinforced the physical infrastructures, build new facilities prior to the floods, and prepositioning emergency water and sanitation supplies, such as hygiene/dignity kits - we need your help. 

Click here to read more about UNICEF's relief in the Rohingya camps, and preparing for Monsoon season. 

Thank you, 

Emma

Links:

• Rohingya refugee children at risk due to floods & landslides