Rohingya Refugee Crisis

UNICEF delivers vital support to vulnerable children and families

Bangladesh. Rohingya refugee
UNICEF/UN0119963/Brown

On 25 August 2017, the world witnessed a massive humanitarian crisis unfold in Rakhine State, Myanmar.  

Hundreds of thousands of terrorised Rohingya fled from Rakhine as they came under violent attack and villages were razed. This triggered an unprecedented exodus across the border to neighbouring Bangladesh. Within a few weeks, half a million people entered Bangladesh seeking safety and shelter.

There are now 860,000 Rohingya living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, over half of whom are children. 

Thanks to the generous support of local Bangladeshi communities, and a multi-national aid effort led by the Government of Bangladesh, the dire threat of a further humanitarian crisis was averted.

UNICEF and humanitarian partners have scaled up and expanded basic services including water, sanitation, healthcare, education, nutrition, protection and communication.

 

Find out more about UNICEF’s work.

Latest updates

Stories and features

Stories and features

Building Hope and Resilience in Cox’s Bazar

UNICEF and the European Union are working together to support Rohingya refugee and host community children in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

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Learning Skills and Entrepreneurship for Resilient Futures

Adolescent graduates of a UNICEF-supported skills development training shine at a local fair in Cox’s Bazar

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Volunteering for Girls’ Education in the Rohingya Camps

Female Rohingya volunteers help remove the barriers that keep adolescent girls from learning.

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Empowering youth through skills development

Multi-purpose centres provide adolescents and youth in Cox’s Bazar with technical and transferable skills to help them reach their potential.

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Rohingya refugee crisis at 7 years

Without good nutrition, Sofiba became critically malnourished. UNICEF is helping her recover, but more is required to support other Rohingya children.

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From bystander to changemaker: Anayet's journey

Rohingya children learn life-skills to stop child rights violations in the refugee camps.

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