.jpg-ch1854096.jpg/m6f86dwb42tx4e228pov856r83113q7l.JPG?g=top&w=1440&h=600&format=webp&itok=hV5ca3C_ "Sultana, 7, at her house in Cox's Bazar")
OVER HALF OF THE 700,000 ROHINGYA REFUGEES ARE CHILDREN
It has been over six years since over 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled violence in Myanmar to seek safety in Bangladesh.
Most arrived 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 1 million Rohingya refugees, most of whom have now been living in the camps for six years. 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. And living conditions in the camps mean there is a major risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera and diphtheria. Girls are exposed to violence and abuse. Rohingya refugee children are worried about their futures; they need hope.
Ayaz* is a 15-year-old teenager living in a cramped, single room house in one of the largest refugee camps in the world – Cox’s Bazar – in Bangladesh. He lives with his mother as well as his five younger siblings. His father passed away six years ago and, as a result, his mother became the sole provider of the family. Over the past five months, Ayaz* and his family have had multiple reductions in their food rations – first from $12.00 USD to $10.00 USD and second from $10.00 USD to $8.00 USD. These USD amounts are per person per month. The family used to be able to purchase food products such as chicken, beef, fish, apples, and oranges. Nowadays, however, the family is limited to purchasing food staples like rice and oil. Mostly, Ayaz*s mother prepares potato soup. Occasionally, she must rely on the kindness of neighbours to borrow ingredients for cooking too. Ayaz*s mother, Farijan Begum*, worries about the health of her children due to this lack of food. Her worries are valid as, sometimes, Ayaz* forgoes eating to ensure that his younger siblings are fed. As the oldest sibling, Ayaz* tries his best to fill the void left by his father by conversing with his younger siblings to keep their spirits high and by helping out around the house by way of doing household work. However, this responsibility weighs heavily on the 15-year-old boy and he often feels stressed as a result. As a way of negating this stress, Ayaz* finds comfort playing with his friends. Looking forward, Ayaz* dreams of becoming a doctor. He wants to be able to provide for his family so that affording basic necessities like food and clothing isn’t a struggle. How is Save the Children helping? Directly in front of the family’s house, Save the Children runs a Multi-Purpose Child and Adolescent Centre (MPCAC). Here, Ayaz* and his siblings attend activities, meetings, and sessions – such as planting trees, taking part in art competitions, and raising awareness about child marriage – alongside other children who live in the refugee camp. In 2018, Ayaz* began studying at a Learning Centre implemented by Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), which is a Save the Children partner organisation. He completed studying up to Level Three, which is equivalent to completing a Bangladeshi education up to grade five. Now, Ayaz* is waiting / hoping to enter the scaled-up Myanmar Curriculum (MC) system that was implemented in Cox’s Bazar in June 2022. This new MC system is equivalent to completing a Bangladeshi education up to grade 10. In addition, the family lives nearby a Health Post that’s supported by Save the Children. This is where they receive medical support if needed. Saddam Hosen / Save the Children
The High Cost of Hunger: A Visual Chronicle of Rohingya refugees' 6-year Struggle
In the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees languish in limbo, largely forgotten by the outside world.
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, as well as support the safe delivery of newborns. 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.
.jpg-ch1830754.jpg/01rwgc047u1325a0e4f1erqnk60y3uu3.JPG?g=top&w=1440&h=600&format=webp&itok=xIcWF9Py "CH1830754_Tariqul Islam, 13, in the field where he plays football with his friends (1).jpg")
Tariqul's* story
When 13-year-old Tariqul* and his family left Myanmar, they had to walk for several days. Tariqul, his mother and 4 siblings had to cross large mountains and the Naf River. They couldn't find proper food and had to survive by eating tree leaves and drinking contaminated water. Many of them fell ill after entering Bangladesh.
Upon arriving at the refugee camp in Bangladesh, Save the Children provided mental health support for the family to support their adjustment to the camp.
Save the Children provided Tariqul* with child protection services as well and his family were selected to receive various hygiene and water services provided by Save the Children.
