Emergency aid being given to vulnerable families who have fled their homes in Myanmar for Bangladesh.
Since 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled from Myanmar and now live in makeshift shelters in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government generously opened their borders to allow the refugees to settle in Bangladesh, providing immediate shelter and protection. Most of these refugees – mainly women and children – continue to need emergency aid just to survive day to day.
Increasing cuts to global aid, including the changes to USAID and planned aid reductions from the UK government, are deeply concerning for situations like the Rohingya crisis, which no longer feature daily in the media and feel the brunt of many of these cuts.
In early 2025 journalist Shweta Sharma visited the camps housing Rohingya refugees, alongside our partner Caritas Bangladesh, and noted that the US aid freeze meant work to support refugees having to be reduced or stopped entirely.
Fatima, who was living in a bamboo shelter with her husband and four children, told Shweta Sharma that if aid were to stop entirely, they would be unable to repair their shelter when it is damaged by monsoon rains each year.
Rena, a refugee whose children attend a school supported by an NGO, told Shweta Sharma if food or other aid assistance were to be further cut, she would face the prospect of having to take her children out of school and get them jobs to help feed the family: "I don’t want this," she said, "but what option do we have?"
CAFOD is calling on the UK government and other donors to continue to support the Rohingya crisis with renewed resources and support, to bring about a sustainable solution to the situation.
What is CAFOD doing to help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh?
Our local experts have been providing practical help in Cox's Bazar since the camp was set up in 2017. We are continuing to work around the clock to ensure that the most vulnerable refugees in makeshift camps receive the aid they need.
So far, we have reached more than 360,000 Rohingya refugees with lifesaving help.
Together with Caritas Bangladesh - supported by dedicated teams of local aid workers and volunteers, with your generous donations we have
provided food, kitchen supplies and blankets to over 89,000 vulnerable families
installed 300 solar street lights, meaning women, children and the elderly can use water and toilet facilities at night
rebuilt temporary homes for 40,000 families, meaning they have somewhere to safer to shelter together.
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