“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” – John F Kennedy
The plight of countless individuals in Rohingya has escalated to become one of the fastest growing refugee crisis. More than the right to live, these refugees wished to be united with their families.
Who are the Rohingya refugees?
The Rohingyas are one of the many ethnic minorities in the country of Myanmar. Rohingya Muslims represent the largest percentage of Muslims in Myanmar. But the Myanmar government that’s largely a Buddhist country has denied Rohingya citizenship and have refused to recognise them as people.
The scale of the crisis
Around 6,700 people, including 730 children under the age of 5 years were killed in the month after the violence broke out.
As of mid-April 2018, there were 781,000 refugees living in nine camps and settlements.
There are around 1,17,000 people staying outside the camps in host communities.
In what ways can you contribute?
Non-profit organizations have joined forces to protect, feed and house the Rohingyas. On World Refugee Day, lets find some ways to help Rohingya people. In case you want to get more information, you can browse through sites like Guide Star and Charity Navigator.
- Doctors without borders: They are bringing additional medical staff to treat the refugees coming into Bangladesh. Donate by cash, or if not cash, then you can donate airplane miles to them.
- UNICEF: UNICEF is distributing clean water, feeding malnourished kids, and vaccinating 150,000 children in the refugee camps.
- Action against hunger: This organization is serving hot meals, clean water and treating malnourishment. They offer mental health counselling to refugees and speak to them about their right to live.
- BRAC: The staff members at BRAC converse in a dialect similar to that of Rohingyas. This makes it easier to communicate with refugees.
- UNHCR: This refugee agency for the United Nations provides critical humanitarian aid and distribute emergency aid and shelter materials. They help unaccompanied children, the elderly, and victims of sexual trauma.
Apart from these non-profit organizations, other non-profits like CARE International, Concern Worldwide, and the International Rescue Committee are also on their quest to help Rohingya refugees and re-instill their right to live.
If you’re still unaware of the plight of Rohingya refugees, this statement by a Rohingya refugee will leave you feeling numb.
With the help of a narrator, Rajuma narrated:
“The Myanmar government soldiers stormed into my village in August and burned down each house. They separated the men from the women and executed the men. Then, they raped the women.
She added: “But before raping me, the soldiers snatched my baby boy from my arms and threw him into a fire. The baby was screaming for me as he burned to death.”
Often overlooked, these refugees struggle to come back to normalcy after witnessing and escaping from violence and social upheaval. They find it hard to rebuild their lives.
But, does it mean they have lost their right to live? Absolutely, not! They deserve the same dignity, respect, and love that all of us command.
On this World Refugee Day, lets forget the political story and just be a human. Lets show some humanity and stand by their right to live!
For more information, call us at: 03340277777 / 8017770323 or email us at: enquiry@newwpsite.tribecacare.com. Visit our page at: www.tribecacare.com.
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