WASHINGTON - Child rights and humanitarian organization Plan International is launching a humanitarian response in Bangladesh to support the Rohingya people fleeing violence in Myanmar.
More than 425,000 Rohingya, the majority of them children and women, have fled their homes in Rakhine State over the last five weeks.
Thousands are camping in the open on muddy hillsides, many without adequate shelter from the monsoon rains, and with limited access to clean drinking water and toilets.
Plan International’s initial response will focus on addressing the desperate need for sanitation and hygiene facilities.
“The new arrivals have endured immense hardship as they made their perilous journey to Bangladesh,” said Orla Murphy, Plan International’s Country Director in Bangladesh. “We are particularly concerned for the safety and wellbeing of children, whose lives have been turned upside down by this crisis.
“Many arriving in Cox’s Bazar have walked for days through dense jungle, arriving in Bangladesh sick, malnourished, and vulnerable to the spread of disease. With so many people living in such close proximity, it is essential that we get basic amenities in place as soon as possible.”
NOTE TO EDITORS: Plan International spokespeople are available for interviews.
About Plan International USA
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan believes in the power and potential of every child. Working together with children, young people, supporters, and partners, Plan strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
For more information, please visit PlanUSA.org.
