Helping older Rohingya refugees at
Cox's Bazar, the world's largest refugee camp.
Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Rohingya, have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh to escape ongoing conflict and violence. HelpAge is working with older people in Cox’s Bazar to provide emergency relief.
The situation is catastrophic
People arrive exhausted and hungry
Since August 2017, Cox’s Bazar, a city in Bangladesh, has experienced a mass influx of people fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar. Many older refugees have experienced severe psychological trauma and distress since the outbreak of violence in Rakhine state. Whether it’s processing the loss of a loved one or finding safe shelter in the camps, many are learning how to reconcile the traumas of the past with the uncertainty of the future.
Our response
Through our global network in Bangladesh, Resource Integration Centre, and Bangladesh Association for the Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine, we are helping those most at risk, including older people, through three age-friendly spaces in one of the permanent camps in Cox’s Bazar. They provide health screenings and home-based care in the camp community, access to age-friendly latrines, and ensure older people reach the services they need.
Watch the video on the harsh reality of daily life for older Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, and learn how you can help.
These are already some of the world’s most vulnerable individuals – and now they have fled in fear for their lives, many walking more than 50km to safety.
