More than a quarter million Rohingya have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh over the last two and half weeks after violence against the people in the Northern Rakhine State of Myanmar escalated. Disturbing reports have emerged that hundreds of people including children have been killed. George Graham of Save the Children says the situation in refugee and host communities is becoming increasingly desperate as the Bangladeshi Government and aid agencies urgently work to scale up their assistance.
Sleeping out in the open
Mr Graham says that in and around Cox’s Bazar, which is a part of Bangladesh near the border with Myanmar, thousands of Rohingya families including children are sleeping out in the open because they have no other place to go. Many have no access to food or clean drinking water and the state of uncertainty increases the risk that children are abused or even trafficked.
Host communities have been generous
Mr Graham added that the host communities have been very generous in sharing their food and other necessities with the refugees, though some Rohingya have been left with no option but to beg for food. Many of the new arrivals feel incredibly desperate after having travelled long distances by foot, having fled their homes amid escalating violence. Many of the children are sick because they do not have access to food and clean water.
Unaccompanied minors
Hundreds of children have arrived either separated or unaccompanied and have lost touch with their families amidst the chaos of fleeing their homes. This is a big problem and these children require additional support and help so that they can reunite with their families. Mr Graham says it is critical that the international community fully funds a humanitarian response plan that will provide support to more than 300,000 people until the end of the year.
More aid is required
Save the Children recognises the enormous contributions made by the Government of Bangladesh as well as the local authorities in Cox’s Bazar and its host communities who have lent their support to the Rohingya refugees. However the scale of the crisis means much more aid is necessary. Save the Children is calling for an end to the violence in Myanmar’s Northern Rakhine State.
“We urge all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to end the violence and ensure the protection of all civilians, particularly children. We call for unhindered humanitarian access to northern Rakhine State, where the situation will certainly worsen if relief organisations aren’t able to resume their operations,” Mr Graham said.
