Despite Roadblocks, Difficult Relief Continues for Rohingya Refugees

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Several members of Helping Hand for Relief and Development's (HHRD) Emergency Response Team have been providing relief in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh since September 2017; however, the location has proved difficult with torrential rains sweeping away makeshift tents and spreading infection.  These camps have become a center of disease and infection due to lack of hygienic conditions. Working alongside partner organizations, HHRD has been able to provide relief items such as Winter Provisions, Hygiene Kits, Cooked Hot Meals, Dry Food Packages, Children Care Centers and Orphan Support Program and Water Projects.

Religious and ethnic tensions are at the heart of the violence that has erupted in Myanmar, also known as Burma, in 2012. Deadly violence in the western Rakhine state against the minority Muslim population, categorized as text book ethnic cleansing by the United Nations, has led to a mass exodus of internally displaced people and refugees pouring into neighboring Bangladesh.

HHRD's "Burma Relief" fund, launched in 2012, has assisted refugees through programs such as In-Kind Gifts, Seasonal and Orphan Support. HHRD has established a regional office in Yangon, the capitol city of Myanmar where they continue to provide relief to those in need through local partner NGOs: Share Mercy and Treasure Land Development Association (TLDA).

Currently, HHRD, with its partners, is caring for over 500 children at two Child Care Centers in Cox's Bazaar. HHRD is providing daily medical services to over 150 people with 2 qualified doctors, 2 pharmacists, and one nurse. Lack of nutrition and safe drinking water has made families prone to illnesses and water borne diseases. HHRD is providing Water and Sanitation Hygiene to these refugees.

HHRD's target for 2018 is to raise $3.5 million for Rohingya Refugee Relief and provide long term rehabilitation to IDPs and refugees. Visit www.hhrd.org/burma for updates from the field and to learn more about HHRD's work in the region.

HHRD is a global humanitarian organization responding to human sufferings in emergency situations around the world regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, class and religion. To donate please visit www.hhrd.org or call 1-888-808-4357(HELP).

Helping Hand for Relief and Development is a 4-star Charity Navigator and a member of Inter-Action. It is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization. Tax ID# 31-1628040 – Contact Media Relations: [email protected]

SOURCE Helping Hand for Relief and Development