Rakhine, Myanmar crisis: Lives shattered, needs urgent
Hundreds of thousands have fled the violence in Rakhine, Myanmar. Majority have crossed the border into Bangladesh.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
The lives of those affected by this tragic situation have become unbearable. We continue scaling up our operations to reach hundreds of thousands of people in need of assistance.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
With their daily lives shattered, the needs of those displaced include access to clean water, food, medical care, and shelter.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
Amidst the chaos, many have been separated from their families and loved ones. Restoring these family links will be crucial.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
Unpleasant weather conditions also pose a threat to their health and well-being, given that there are inadequate shelters to support the influx of people through the border area.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
Most fled the violence in Rakhine, Myanmar with just the clothes on their backs, with not much hope for their futures.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
Addressing their basic needs is only one part in helping them rebuild their lives.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
The majority of those fleeing the violence are children. This makes them more vulnerable to the effects of this tragic situation.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
With so many children affected by this conflict, it is crucial that assistance is scaled up to address their most urgent needs.CC BY-NC-ND /Sheikh Mehedi Morshed/ICRC
Rakhine is the poorest state in Myanmar, and one that has been badly hit over the years, by violence and other disasters such as flooding.
The current outbreaks of violence have forced over 500,000 people to flee the state and cross over to neighbouring Bangladesh in a matter of weeks. In the rush to reach safety, families have had to leave everything they own behind. With scarce food, water and shelter, the already harsh conditions are becoming unbearable.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is scaling up operations in Myanmar and Bangladesh, including border areas. Our teams are working around the clock to help everyone affected by the fighting. But so much more assistance is needed.
