Over half of Rohingya refugees are children
Almost half a million Rohingya children are growing up in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – stateless, unrecognised and lost. This is a children’s crisis. Save the Children is one of the leading International NGOs working inside the camps.
Photo credit: Allison Joyce / Save the Children
It has been more than six years since over 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled violence in Myanmar to seek safety in Bangladesh.
Most arrives in a state of shock, grief and exhaustion, carrying nothing but the clothes on their back. Now the humanitarian situation is reaching its breaking point. For six years, Rohingya refugee children have gone without formal education; parents and caregivers have gone without employment, and all refugees have become more vulnerable to deaths and injuries from large-scale fires, flooding and rising insecurity than ever before.
Cox’s Bazar is home to the largest refugee settlement in the world, with almost one million Rohingya refugees living inside the sprawling camps. Many families are reliant on food rations to survive. They need access to safe water and healthcare. Three in four children are out of school, girls are exposed to violence and abuse and 30,000 babies are born each year only to grow up in the most difficult circumstances.
The basic living conditions inside the camp are dire. Overcrowded makeshift housing, combined with no access to adequate hygiene and sanitation facilities or clean water, mean that children are constantly contracting respiratory tract infections, especially the common cold. Pneumonia is the most common cause of death, and acute diarrhoea, skin diseases, worm infections and scabies are increasingly common.
Rohingya children are worried about their futures. They need hope.
DONATE NOW
Outside health clinic
Our response
Save the Children is one of the leading International NGOs working in Cox’s Bazar and has been there since 2012.
Save the Children is on the ground ensuring children are safe, protected and learning. We've built health facilities, including a 20-bed Primary Health Care Centre, which provide 24-hour care for sick and injured children, and the health posts generous Kiwis like you are helping us to keep open.
We've installed toilets and bathing units, and are distributing essential hygiene items so children can stay healthy. We're providing emotional and psychosocial support to children to help them come to terms with the traumatic experiences they've been through.
With the support of the Bangladesh Government, we've also set up informal learning opportunities at 100 learning centres across Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, and are distributing teaching and learning materials so children can continue to learn. And, we've set up Child and Girl Friendly Spaces where children can learn, play and be children again.
But we need your help to continue this life-saving work!
DONATE NOW
A nutrition counselor conducted a session with Hafiza*
Hafiza*’s story
Meet Hafiza*, a Rohingya mother who lives inside a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. After Hafiza suffered the traumatic experience of losing her first child, she was determined to protect her second child, Sadia*, who was born in July 2023. However, she faced some challenges in breastfeeding her newborn. The neighbours advised her to feed her baby rice powder or packaged milk, as they thought breastfeeding was not sufficient for her child.
Hafiza was confused and worried about her baby's health and nutrition. She decided to visit the Save the Children health post for a postnatal check-up, where she met with a nutrition counsellor. The counsellor explained to Hafiza the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and how it could prevent malnutrition, infections, and diseases. She also showed her how to ensure proper latching of the baby and encouraged her to continue breastfeeding exclusively. Hafiza was convinced by the counsellor’s advice but was worried about pressure from her community to feed Sadia supplementary food. The nutrition counsellor assured her that she could come back anytime for more support and guidance, and assigned Hafiza a community health worker who would follow up with her at home.
Hafiza followed the counsellor’s instructions and started to see positive results. Sadia started to latch and feed better, and her milk supply increased. Hafiza noticed that her baby was growing healthier and happier and that she had a stronger bond with her. She visited the health post regularly and received more counselling and care from Save the Children staff.
Hafiza said, “I was not aware of the benefits of breastfeeding and worried about my child's condition and mine also. I previously lost one child and a neighbour suggested feeding rice powder to Sadia. Apa (counsellor) said rice powder is not good for my child. I'm very grateful that Apa helped me to continue breastfeeding my baby girl.”
*Names changed to protect identities.
