We usually hear about ShelterBox providing disaster relief to areas around the globe battered by floods, earthquakes, monsoons and other natural disasters. But, religious, sectarian and ethnic terrorism continues creating hordes of refugees in need of help.
The latest such situation is in Bangladesh where roughly a half-million Rohingya refugees have poured over the border of the South Asian country fleeing military violence against their ethnic group in neighboring Myanmar (Burma) and are living in squalor in makeshift camps.
There are more than a million Rohingya in Myanmar, but since the 1980s they have not been allowed to have citizenship in their own country. They often are referred to as the world’s most persecuted minority.
Liz O’Dell, who has volunteered for 18 Shelterbox deployments in various parts of the world, says this camp (seen above) is “one of the most shocking” she ever has seen. The squalor is apparent at just a glance. Click here for her video report.
• Click here for background on the refugee crisis.
• Click here for background on the Rohingya people.
(Originally posted 02/22/16)
Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club 