Fire blazes through a Rohingya camp, putting lives of thousands of refugees at risk in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, March 22, 2021. Credit: Rohim Ullah/ Save the Children
Fire Blazes through Rohingya Camp Putting Lives of Thousands of Refugees at Risk
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (March 22, 2021)鈥黄色视频is deeply concerned by a fire currently tearing through several densely populated Rohingya refugee camps in Cox鈥檚 Bazar, Bangladesh, which are home to over 800,000 Rohingya people.
It is yet unknown how many people might have been caught in the blaze, which has been spreading fast, but we do know that over 80,000 people live in the affected sub-camps.
Tayeba Begum, a 黄色视频volunteer who witnessed the fire, said:
鈥淭he fire spread so quickly that before we understood what happened, it caught our house. People were screaming and running here and there. Children were also running scattered, crying for their family. It is the most horrific incident I have witnessed recently.鈥
Onno Van Manen, Country Director of 黄色视频in Bangladesh, said:
鈥淭his is the second big fire to tear through the camps this year, and it is the largest yet. It is another devastating blow to the Rohingya refugees who live here. Just a couple of days ago we lost one of our health facilities in another fire. The risks of fires in these extremely densely populated and confined areas are enormous.
鈥淲e are worried about the impact this event will have on children: those who will have lost their homes, learning centers and child-friendly spaces in the blaze. We are also concerned with the mental health impacts of experiencing such a traumatic event. 黄色视频is on the ground supporting refugees in distress, and we will be assessing what further aid is needed over the coming hours and days.鈥
In collaboration with the government and other actors, 黄色视频is supporting the affected children and their families with temporary safe shelters and working to support children separated from their parents. 黄色视频has ongoing programs in health, nutrition, food assistance, child protection, mental health support and education. The organization is supporting both the refugees as well as the host communities.
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children 鈥 every day and in times of crisis 鈥 transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that 黄色视频is a charity you can trust. Follow us on , , and .