Refugee child in Rohingya
Bangladesh – April 6 2018

Rohingya children at risk from monsoon flooding

Rohingya child refugees who have fled violence and persecution in Myanmar are facing an imminent threat from flooding and water-borne diseases as the Bangladesh monsoon season approaches.
 
More than 650,000 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh from Myanmar since August. More than half of them are children, and at least 40,000 are unaccompanied. Most are living in bamboo huts which are at risk of collapse when the rains begin.

The Bangladesh annual monsoon season is often accompanied by cyclones, landslides and other natural disasters, and outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as malaria and cholera present a serious health risk. 

SOS Children’s Villages is working in the region to provide emergency aid to children and families.

Shuba Murthi, Head of SOS Children’s Villages in Asia, said: “We are deeply concerned about the safety of Rohingya child refugees in Bangladesh, who are already facing severe health and nutritional challenges.”

“In addition to emergency aid, we are providing family-based care for unaccompanied children and working to reunite them with their families wherever possible.”

SOS Children’s Villages has set up five child-friendly spaces in refugee camps in the Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh, providing 300 children a day with nutritious meals, recreation and an informal education, as well as nutritional support for breastfeeding mothers and infants.

 Our child-friendly spaces are providing Rohingya children with:
  • A safe place to play with other children
  • Access to informal education
  • A balanced diet, nutritional screening hygiene
  • Trauma healing and psychological support
  • Healthcare and referral services for specialised medical attention

You can donate to our emergency relief work for Rohingya refugees here.

Notes to editors:
For media enquiries please contact Lucy Prioli at Lucy.Prioli@sosuk.org or on 01223 222 974.