Myanmar Refugee Crisis

The rapidly escalating situation is Southeast Bangladesh is the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis. Our staff are reporting unimaginable suffering in the overcrowded camps where refugees are living in makeshift tents, with little access to food, clean drinking water, and other basic needs. Recent monsoon rains are making conditions for the refugees even more difficult.

of refugees in the overcrowded camps are children.

of the refugee population relies on lifesaving assistance to meet basic needs.

refugees have received humanitarian assistance from World Vision.

Vulnerable children and families need our help right now

Living in the world’s most densely populated refugee camps, they have seen their homes burned, parents killed, children growing weak and sick, food and water shortages, and are now amidst the monsoon season causing wide-spread destruction and disease.

Little Faizal’s mother has died and he has not seen his father since he watched him being arrested and taken away. He clings to his Aunty Najma. She told us “At night he shudders at times. In his sleep he keeps crying and calling out daddy.”

These children not only need urgent food, water and shelter, but support for the trauma they have been through and a safe place to play and learn. These are strong, resilient families but right now they are facing such a devastating situation.

World Vision are working closely with the Government of Bangladesh and the World Food Programme to coordinate our humanitarian response. We’ve already reached over 200,000 people with emergency aid.

World Vision is on the ground delivering emergency aid

We continue to provide emergency food and shelter. With the high number of pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five in the camps we are focusing our food on them to ensure they are receiving adequate nutrition. We are distributing personal and home items such as clothes, flashlights, soap, beds, blankets and cooking utensils. We are also helping mums and babies with nappies, breastfeeding covers, swaddles and baby toys.

We are trucking in clean water and constructing wells and building toilets. The extremely high density of the refugee camps and settlements increases the risk of disease outbreaks. A major challenge is to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases in the camps, particularly cholera.

We are running several Child Friendly Spaces where over 1,000 children are coming together to play and learn in a safe environment and get support for the trauma they’ve been through.