Christian World Service has launched an appeal for Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh and those needing help in Myanmar.
An estimated 501,000 refugees have already arrived in Bangladesh fleeing Myanmar troops and Buddhist vigilantes.  Every day this week 4,000-5,000 people were crossing the border after walking for up to eight days and a dangerous sea journey.  They have arrived with nothing.
Funding is urgently needed to support and scale up existing and establish new services. Monsoon rains and widespread flooding are making conditions more difficult.  Families have erected makeshift shelters on any available land they can find.  Many are in need of medicine or treatment and there is a high risk of disease.
The Appeal will help families with urgent relief supplies: food, water, tarpaulins, hygiene kits and sanitation as local people, Bangladesh authorities and agencies scramble to meet the escalating needs.  
ACT Alliance’s Raisa Chowdry visiting the refugees a few days ago describes the “massive need on the ground” as a “test of our humanity”.
CWS asks churches to pray for all the communities displaced by the violence.
Bangladesh is already struggling to respond to record-breaking floods, which submerged almost one-third of the country and affected 6.9 million people. 
The Myanmar military launched a crackdown in the Rakhine state after an armed Rohingya group attacked border posts in October 2016.  The violence intensified when the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacked 30 police targets and an army base on 25 August this year leading to large-scale displacement.  
ACT Alliance is working with local partners in Myanmar.  While there is no access to the north, they have the approval to work in camps for displaced people in Central Rakhine.  They are seeking funding for food, non-food items, livelihood restoration, shelter, and to organise peace gatherings for all communities.
 
$58 could provide a family with food for 15 days.  $31 could provide shelter.  
Donations can be made here to the Rohingya Refugee Appeal 
•By Phone with a credit card: 0800 74 73 72
•By Post to: CWS, PO Box 22652, Christchurch 8140
CWS is a member of ACT Alliance a global coalition of more than 145 churches and church-related organisations working together on humanitarian, development and advocacy in over 100 countries.
October 6, 2017