Remembering Rohingya and Haitian children

While the world’s attention is often fixated on major global events and short-lived news headlines, there are many ongoing crises with horrific consequences for children that do not get the awareness they deserve – which is why we must remember Rohingya and Haitian children.

The Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh and the unprecedented challenges faced by the people of Haiti are two major humanitarian crises that have slipped into the shadows of media coverage and are sadly no longer at the forefront of people’s minds. With the magnitude of suffering and the urgent need for assistance, it is important to remember the children and youth living through these crises who have hopes and dreams.

 

Six years of crisis for Rohingya children

Sixteen-year-old Kulsum* attends a Save the Children learning facility in the camp. “I can now write and read alphabets. I am progressing slowly. I feel like the more I am learning, the closer I am going to my future,” says Kulsum.

August 25th marks six years since were forced to flee their homes in Myanmar to seek refuge in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. For six years, many of these families have been living in temporary shelters in what has become the world’s largest refugee settlement. The camps are overcrowded and access to food, clean water, and medical care is scarce. Women and children, in particular, are at risk of severe human rights violations, including sexual violence and child trafficking. Additionally, cuts funding shortages have made the food insecurity situation worse for almost one million Rohingya families who are dependent on aid.  

Right now, around half a million Rohingya children are in urgent need of assistance in Cox’s Bazar. Natural disasters have only made matters worse. Intense heatwaves and a dangerous cyclone left children in the camps at risk of disease outbreaks like diarrhea, cholera, dengue, and scabies.

Save the Children has been working in Cox’s Bazar since 2012, providing life-saving health and nutrition services, food and shelter support, water, sanitation and hygiene services, learning opportunities, and child protection programs.

Children in Haiti continue to live in crisis

Haitian children and their families have been grappling with a series of crises for decades. Devastating earthquakes and hurricanes in recent years have caused widespread destruction and deaths.   The country was still recovering from the earthquake in 2010 when Hurricane Matthew hit the southern part of the country in 2017, followed by another earthquake that rocked the country in 2021.

August 14th marks two years since that second major earthquake. In combination with the destruction from the earthquake, Haiti also faces escalating violence, worsening political and economic turmoil, widespread poverty, growing food insecurity, and a cholera outbreak. These factors have left more than 2.9 million children in need of humanitarian assistance. Also, deteriorating humanitarian conditions and security issues are creating barriers for international aid to get into the country, putting more and more children at risk.

Ten-year-old Entha’s* family’s crops were destroyed by the earthquake in 2021. Save the Children provided the family with support and Entha attended a Child-Friendly Space where she was able to play and learn. “Save the Children sent cash transfers to my mother, so she was able to buy food. The food made me happy,” says Entha.

Save the Children has been working in Haiti since 1978, focusing on providing humanitarian relief, child protection, education, cash assistance, nutrition, and health support to children and their families. Save the Children also provides support to reduce risks related to disasters and to ensure children and their families are as prepared as possible to cope with any future devastations. The situation for children in Haiti remains critical, as an estimated 5.2 million people this year are in desperate need of support, 300,000 more than last year.

The importance of raising awareness

Even in the face of adversity, the children caught up in these crises have had no choice but to be remarkably resilient and courageous. However, their struggles continue to go unnoticed by much of the world, and more needs to be done to ensure children’s lives, rights, and futures are protected. The Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and the struggles faced by children in Haiti are just two examples of humanitarian crises that are not getting enough attention.

To lend your support to children in countries like Bangladesh and Haiti, please consider donating to our Children’s Emergency Fund.