Support Immunizations for Rohingya Refugee Children in Bangladesh

In August 2017, violence erupted in Rakhine State in Myanmar targeting the Rohingya people, a Muslim minority. More than half a million people fled to Bangladesh, triggering one of the fastest growing humanitarian crises in the world.

A total of 1.3 million people have been affected by the crisis in Myanmar, which includes 706,364 Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh since the end of August 2017. The sheer number of refugees overwhelmed pre-existing refugee camps, with new arrivals seeking shelter anywhere they could find space. More than half of the refugee population (54 percent) are children, and 60 percent are women and girls.

These refugees are highly vulnerable, living in overcrowded camps and many have experienced severe psychosocial trauma. Existing basic services are overwhelmed, especially water and sanitation services, leading to unsanitary conditions and increased risk of disease outbreaks. The nutrition situation is deeply concerning, with a high percentage of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), an extreme form of undernutrition that is a major cause of death in children under 5. Children suffering from SAM have low weight for their height, and the physical and cognitive effects of SAM can hinder a child’s development, preventing them from fulfilling their full potential. An estimated 500,000 children need education, protection and psychosocial support. Both refugees and host communities are also susceptible to environmental hazards from with the annual cyclone and monsoon season.

Most of the new influx population are unimmunized, which makes them vulnerable to the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases. Since the onset of the emergency, the Government of Bangladesh, in coordination with UNICEF and WHO, has been implementing vaccination campaigns targeting children between 6 months to 15 years for Measles-Rubella (MR), polio, cholera and diphtheria. From mid-September 2017 through the end of May 2018, a total 4,478,200 doses of vaccines against different diseases were provided through 9 vaccination campaigns.

Your support will ensure that every child is provided lifesaving vaccines through routine immunizations. Thank you for your support.