In 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees fled violence in neighboring Myanmar and sought shelter in Bangladesh, joining several hundred thousand Rohingya who had previously fled persecution in Myanmar. The United Nations estimates that there are more than 970,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar living in Bangladesh. More than half are children.

Who are the Rohingya?

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority from Rakhine State, western Myanmar. Rohingya people in Myanmar are denied citizenship, basic rights, and protections. As the world’s largest stateless population, they are extremely vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

How did the Rohingya refugee crisis begin?

Rohingya communities in Myanmar have experienced decades of persecution. Since the 1990s, more than one million Rohingya have fled Myanmar. In August 2017, a massive outbreak of violence forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

Where are Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh sheltering?

Rohingya refugees are sheltering in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar District, Chattogram (Chittagong) Division in southeastern Bangladesh, and on Bhasan Char Island in the Bay of Bengal.

Kutupalong Refugee Camp, a conglomeration of 23 camps in Cox’s Bazar District, considered to be the world’s largest refugee camp, houses nearly 800,000 Rohingya refugees.

What are conditions like for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh?

With few opportunities for employment or schooling, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are almost wholly dependent on aid for survival. They are experiencing poor and worsening living conditions.

The camps are cramped and crowded, with population density exceeding 50,000 people per square kilometer in some areas (more than five times that of New York City). Crime and violence are rising, with women and children especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

Bangladesh is not a signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention and has no national legislation that specifically governs refugee affairs. Consequently, Rohingya refugees have few formal rights or protections in Bangladesh.

What essential services do Rohingya refugees need?

Rohingya refugees need support for essential health care, food security and nutrition, shelter and non-food items, safe water, sanitation, hygiene, protection, education, livelihoods and skills development

What about Bangladesh host communities?

With Rohingya refugees comprising one-third of the total population of Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh host communities also need development support to promote well-being and peaceful coexistence. This support includes livelihoods, safe water, hygiene and sanitation, and cleaner and sustainable energy.

What about the Rohingya who remain in Myanmar?

Around 600,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmar, mostly in Rakhine State. An estimated 130,000 of them are interned in open-air detention camps with severe limitations on livelihoods, movement, education, health care, and adequate food and shelter. Those outside of the camps also live with heavy restrictions.

The recent escalation of conflict in Rakhine State places Rohingya communities there at significantly increased risk of violence and persecution.

How You Can Help

Your gift to Community Partners International will have an immediate and significant impact for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Since 2017, we have worked with Rohingya refugees to provide essential health care, safe water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and emergency response services.

We support health facilities and networks of community health and hygiene workers to meet refugee families’ basic health and hygiene needs.

We build and maintain water wells and networks, toilets and washing facilities to ensure adequate supplies of safe water and prevent deadly waterborne diseases.

Additionally, we train community-based teams to respond to fires, floods and cyclones, saving lives and supporting recovery.

See how your gift can make a difference: