News / Thoughts

Bangladesh: Helping fleeing Rohingya families

You’ve probably seen in the news in the last few weeks the crisis unfolding in Myanmar and Bangladesh. A largely Muslim ethnic minority group called the Rohingya’s have been forced to flee villages in Myanmar to Bangladesh. In the last few weeks, at least 430,000 Rohingya refugees have fled. It is estimated that at least 60% of them are children.

The Rohingya have an uneasy relationship with Myanmar. The minority Muslim ethnic group has lived in the region for centuries, but are not recognised as Myanmarese citizens. The government claim they are from Bangladesh, but the government in Bangladesh also denies responsibility for them.

Increasing tensions have seen Rohingya militias attack police in Myanmar, with the military and police now accused of burning villages and inciting violence against the minority group. Hundreds of thousands have now fled across the border to Bangladesh, with little in the way of food, shelter or healthcare.

Open Doors contacts have in the last week been visiting and working with Rohingya families to help provide relief to families in Bangladesh. They have planned to help at least 500 families.

Pray now…

• Thank God for the work of Open Doors partners serving those rejected and ignored by the countries they live in
• Pray that the work of local partners will shine God’s love to Rohingya families
• Pray for Rohingya families as they try to live with uncertainty, violence and little in the way of food and shelter
• Ask that the government will provide the Rohingya a place of refuge and safety
• Pray that the UN and other powerful nations around the world would help to persuade and stop Myanmar’s persecution of the Rohingyas