Bangladesh Rohingya Refugee Crisis
Oxfam in Asia : Bangladesh Rohingya Refugee Crisis
Half a million more Rohingya people have crossed over to Bangladesh since August 2017. This unprecedented number of refugees arriving in a very short space of time has caused a large scale and escalating humanitarian crisis. Twenty nine percent of all refugees are children. Oxfam is responding, but we need your help.
Existing and newly-built camps are insufficient to deal with the new influx of refugees. More than 70% of them do not have access to adequate shelter and half have no safe drinking water. Recent rains have caused flooding and risk of mudslides in some of the makeshift settlements.
In total more than a million people: recent arrivals, long-term refugees and host communities are in critical need. We are scaling up our response to reach 200,000 people.
Oxfam is responding to Rohingya Refugee Crisis
We are providing:
- Water tanks, water treatment plants and containers for clean drinking water
- Portable toilets and sanitation facilities
- 70 tons of flattened rice, 23 tons of sugar, and 23,000 fortified biscuit packs
- Plastic sheets for shelter, and other essential supplies
- Dignity kits with hygiene items for women, girls, and children.
We are working with the government and other agencies to make sure that new refugee camps meet humanitarian standards for the delivery of aid. We are particularly concerned that adequate attention is given to the protection of women and girls.
So far Oxfam has reached over 180,000 people. You can help us scale up our response.
Please donate to the Oxfam Emergency Fund now
Mohammad*, 10 y.o, carries an Oxfam food parcel back to his home in Thengkhali Camp in Southern Bangladesh.
Mohammad arrived in Bangladesh on September 2nd with his parents, sister and two brothers. Mohammad's father, Hassan*, said: "There are not enough latrines and no showers but we have got clean water. There are about 300 people for two latrines. The latrine is far away and difficult for women. They don’t eat much food so they just go to the bathroom at night and take someone with them. Things are expensive here - we can’t afford the food. We have received this food after five days with no distribution. Ten days ago, we received 25kg of rice. The food here will last us for two days. It is not what we are used to eating but we have enough. Today we will eat this Oxfam food for lunch and cook potatoes and rice for dinner." (*Names have been changed)
Nur*, 7 y.o, takes a drink of water from an Oxfam pump, while her friend Sofia*, 6 y.o, washes.
As of 3rd October 2017, Oxfam had installed 100 water pumps in Kutupalong camp. There are almost 50,000 Rohingya refugees living in Kutupalong camp. Many of these are living under inadequate shelter and have limited access to clean water and latrines. (*Names have been changed)
Mahmud, 65 y.o, staying at a new settlement at block C2, Lambashiya, Ukiya, Cox's Bazar.
Mahmud said "This is my 14th day in Bangladesh, but the first morning that I got access to a latrine.”
Razida*, 35 y.o, carries her ten month old son Anisul* through Unchiprang Camp in Bangladesh.
Razida* arrived in Bangladesh after walking for six days with her eight children. She brought nothing with her when she fled Myanmar and had to ask for food from people on the way. "They burned my home and shot my husband dead. The women and children ran away - we were safe, but the attackers surrounded the men and killed them so they couldn’t bring us anything, we had to even borrow money to cross the border. I left with all my children, I had to leave. How can I feel anything at all now? I’ve got shelter but no clean water and nowhere to shower. My children are sick and I am sick from worrying." (*Names have been changed)
Sumania*, 30 y.o, with her sons Khairul*, 7 y.o, and Roiyan*, 4 y.o.
Sumania lives in Moinnarghona Camp in Bangladesh with her seven children. Oxfam recently installed latrines and water pumps in the camp. Sumania lives just a short walk to both a latrine and a water pump. "We are getting all kinds of benefits (from the water pump). We can drink water whenever we need to. We can add medicine to the water. We are feeling better that now we can take a shower anytime and drink safe water. The children can go and fetch water, we do not have to go far. It is more convenient. It makes me very happy that my children are getting better, they can wash their body, they can drink safe water from the pipe too. We are happy." (*Names have been changed)
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