Since August 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya people have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Many refugees have settled in a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar in south-east Bangladesh. Though the Rohingya are now safe from persecution and being supported by organisations on the ground, they are faced with the risk of flooding from monsoon rains, which may destroy shelters, create landslides and pose health risks. Caritas Aotearoa is working with Caritas Bangladesh and others to build retainer walls, stronger shelters and to meet the needs of the Rohingya people.

As Pope Francis said, ‘embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands.’ The Rohingya are an example of his message. Caritas invites you to stand in solidarity with the Rohingya by supporting our emergency appeal.

Right now, each donation is doubled (up to $250,000) by the New Zealand Aid Programme. To give go online to www.caritas.org.nz/donate or call 0800 22 10 22

Published in WelCom August 2018