Bangladesh: A new beginning for Rohingya families
As they fled Myanmar, the Rohingya were forced to leave everything behind. In the Kutupalong refugee camp, they are trying to make a fresh start under the most difficult of conditions.
With your donation, you can boost support for refugee families on the ground and support Misereor’s global work for people in need.
- Asia
Great need in a confined space
It has been almost 10 years since hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were forced to flee widespread violence in Myanmar. Since then, over a million refugees have been living in the Kutupalong camp in Bangladesh – crammed into an area of just 13 square kilometres. Bangladesh itself is one of the world’s most economically strained countries and is reaching its limits when it comes to providing humanitarian aid: there is a shortage of food, income opportunities, basic medical care and education.
Damage caused by fires in the warehouse
Time and again, major fires break out in the densely populated camps, causing thousands of families to lose what little shelter they have. The fires destroy health centres, damage water wells and wipe out their last remaining possessions. Rebuilding from scratch places a heavy burden on families and children in particular.
Building bridges between communities
The situation is also tense in the surrounding villages: as resources such as land, firewood and drinking water are in short supply, social tensions are mounting between the local population and the refugees. In addition to providing emergency aid, Misereor’s partner organisation Uttaran is therefore working specifically to promote peaceful coexistence.
In specially established meeting centres – the Community Cohesion Centres (CCCs) – Rohingya women come together with female neighbours from the surrounding communities to share experiences and build networks. Training courses for girls and women also provide new knowledge and strengthen mutual trust.
Self-employment and a secure income
The Uttaran team is active both in the camp and in the neighbouring villages, with the aim of creating income-generating opportunities for both sides. With expert guidance, women are putting joint business ideas into practice – just like 26-year-old Ayesha Akter. She opened a small market garden and even created new jobs in the process. To prepare, she received practical training, start-up capital, as well as seeds and fertiliser.
Being able to support their families with their own income restores people’s dignity and gives them hope for a self-determined future.
Here’s what our local partners achieved last year:
- Emergency aid following camp fires: 850 families received new kitchen sets, lamps and essential everyday items.
- Support for new arrivals: 350 refugee families were provided with basic supplies for their emergency accommodation.
- Long-term income generation: 40 young people completed practical training in small-scale animal husbandry and income generation.
- Community cohesion and education: 6 neighbourhood centres offer ongoing courses, social events and legal advice.
Would you like to find out more about our charity projects? Then read our magazine “Weiter.wirken” now. The magazine about and for the people who make a difference at Misereor.
When making a donation by bank transfer, please quote the reference ‘S63701 Bangladesh: Rohingya families’ in the payment reference field. This lets us know which project is particularly close to your heart; your contribution will be used as a general donation towards this work and Misereor’s overall global mission.
To ensure that your donation has an impact in the long term, Misereor uses a small proportion for important administration an related tasks. This way, we make sure that projects are selected carefully and implemented responsibly and that their effects are regularly monitored. Should it not be possible to use your donation as planned, we will use it where it is currently needed most.
Our local partner organisations
UTTARAN
Misereor has been supporting the Bangladeshi partner organisation UTTARAN since 1996. It helps poor population groups in the south-west of Bangladesh to adapt to climate change and improve the food situation.
Since 2017, UTTARAN has also been working in the Kutupalong refugee camp and is one of the pioneers of refugee work in the world's largest refugee camp.
Miriam Thiel
Donor Communications
- Telephone
- +49 241 442506
- miriam.thiel@misereor.de
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