Arshia’s story: "A plastic container kept me afloat"
Mum-of-two Arshia is one of more than one million who have crossed the border from neighbouring Myanmar since August 2017. This is her story.
Huge thanks to all who have supported the appeal for people fleeing Myanmar
Boli and Mohamud at Moynadhona refugee camp for Rohingya in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
As you may know, multiple outbreaks of violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, has forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people to flee their homes. More than half a million Rohingya people have crossed into Bangladesh since 25 August 2017. But interest in this shocking crisis is diminishing. We are part of the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for people fleeing violence in Myanmar, so let's take a look at those who are actively raising awareness about this tragedy.
Those who have fled horrific violence are in urgent need of shelter, medical care, food and water and sanitation facilities as they arrive exhausted and traumatised into overflowing camps and settlements. To be able to provide this life-saving support, organisations like Concern need your support. And in order to get support, we need awareness and engagement.
We'd like to thank those of you who have engaged with and supported this appeal so far. Our vital work in Bangladesh could not be done without you. However, it has been difficult to gain awareness and of this emergency and that's why we'd like to celebrate the notable advocators who've brought this urgent crisis into the limelight, and encourage the rest of you to do the same.
1. Richard Branson
Well-known philanthropist Branson urges people to help those fleeing violence in Myanmar.
2. Simon Pegg
Taking time out of fighting zombies to show is support for the Disasters Emergency Committee.
3. Stephen Fry
With 220 retweets, this certainly would have had an impressive reach! Thank you Stephen, for helping us spread the word.
4. Riz Ahmed
Appeals both in person and on social for support of the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for people fleeing violence in Myanmar.
5. Bear Grylls
It's nice to see Bear in support of a specific charirty, as well as the DEC. And great, as always, to see #Myanmar being used too.
6. Eddie Izzard
Eddie captures the urgency of this emergency perfectly in this supportive tweet. Thank you.
7. Alt-J
Thanks so much Alt-J!
8. Paloma Faith
Met this girl in an army medical post, no parents, sick baby, weight of the world on her shoulders. What is her future? #Rohingya #refugees pic.twitter.com/0C3kfnrgvL
— Mark Lowcock (@UNReliefChief) October 3, 2017
9. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock
This just shows the scale of this emergency. Rohingya refugees need your help and support. We need your help and support. Concern is already actively working in Bangladesh. We are on the ground providing 48,000 Rohingya refugees with food rations and are mobilising additional supplies to ensure lifesaving nutrition support for 100,000, mainly children, pregnant and breastfeeding women. We aim to provide water, shelter and ongoing food assistance to more than 100,000 people.
The more we can do now to help, the more lives we can save.
