Rohingya children in danger
It is the nature of war that its biggest sufferers are women and children. The fact that children constitute about 60 percent of six lakh Rohingya refugees who have made it to Bangladesh has just reaffirmed it. The remaining refugees are predominantly women—many of whom are pregnant, lactating mothers—and elderly people.
They all face a wide range of threats, even in the apparent safe haven in Bangladesh. But those in extreme danger are the orphans, who lost their parents before fleeing to Bangladesh.
The administration deserves credit for allowing the refugees to enter Bangladesh, but the condition in the areas where they have since lived is dire, to say the least. After having walked miles after miles to reach Bangladesh, they are in acute need of food and sanitary sanctuary. Estimated 25,000 orphans face particular dangers from human traffickers.
Amid concerns over a possible outbreak of waterborne diseases, UNICEF on Friday urged its donors to respond to the requirements of the updated Bangladesh Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). United Nation's children programme has called for USD 434 million to address the overall crisis.
The international community must understand that this humanitarian disaster is too big for a country like Bangladesh to manage single-handedly. The government with its overstretched and overwhelmed resources and manpower continues to do its best to meet the needs of the refugees, but the world community must come forward to prevent the human catastrophe from spiralling further.
Unless the world pressurises the Burmese government into agreeing to stop the persecution of Rohingya, take back the refugees, and grant them full citizenship, the crisis will present imponderable consequences.
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