ISDE “FEED THE FASTING” RAMADAN FOOD PACK DISTRIBUTED TO ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH

01 Jun 2019 | 4: 10 pm

On Sunday 19th May 2019, Feed the Fasting, Ramadan food packs were distributed to approximately 160 Rohingya(Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) refugees residing in the Thaiongkhali camp (camp 13) of Ukhiya sub-district in the district of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.

The Feed the Fasting, Ramadan food packs were generously funded by Muslim Aid USA and were designed with the need and demand of the traditional food items that the Rohingya community were used to eating during the Iftar (breaking of the fast) when they had the ability to feed themselves in their own land. Each food pack contained: Rice 15KG, Chickpeas (Chona Boot) 4KG, Pulse (Motor Dal) 3KG, Vermicelli (Semai) 1000 Grm, Sugar 2KG, Dates 500 gm, Ghee 225 gm, Edible oil 2Lit, Onion 2 Kg, Salt 1KG, Milk powder 500 gm, dry fish 500 gm. Each food pack will support the Iftar and chehery(mid night meal) needs of a family for the whole month of Ramadan.

Before food pack distribution, ISDE Bangladesh staff members visited selected beneficiaries houses and justified the needs. After checking the list of household the list were submitted to Camp In charge (CiC) for verification. After verification ISDE distributed the food pack to the selected beneficiaries.

During the distribution of the food pack ISDE Bangladesh Executive Director Mr. S M Nazer Hossain, Muslim Aid UK Programme Manager Humanitarian, Md Abdur Rahim, and Panel Mayor of Cox’s Bazar Municipality Ms Shahana Akhter Pakhi, ISDE’s Programme Coordinator Md Jahangir Alam, ISDE’s sr. staff was present and distributed the food pack.

On the occasion, ISDE Bangladesh’s Executive Director, Mr. S M Nazer Hossain said, “ISDE always with the vulnerable and displaced communities to meet their crisis and try to expand more support in the coming days, many families are still have not received Ramadan food pack and food is one of the important needs to survive in the refugee camp.” He also thanks to Muslim Aid USA for their generosity to feed the refugees in the blessed month of Ramadan. He also thanks to honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh (Mother of the Humanity) Sheik Hasina for give shelter to the 15 million Rohingya in Bangladesh.

“Food pack delivered by ISDE is our only hope during the month of fasting to have Iftar and chehery as per our tradition, may Allah bless the ISDE” said Mrs. Aklima Khatun (45), one of the beneficiaries of food distribution who resides in the refugee camp with her children and elderly husband.

Mohammad Asgor Ali (48), another refugee who lives in the camps said, “Thanks to ISDE for support us and we also thanks to Sheik Hasina Govt. for give shelter in Bangladesh. We want to go back to Myanmar, our homeland. We are now safe here in Bangladesh, we need support from everyone to meet our basic needs and live in dignity”.

Muslim Aid UK representative, Md Abdur Rahim commenting on his message to Muslim Aid USA supporters “Ramadan Mubarak to all the volunteers and fundraisers and also the Rohingya peoples. He hopes Muslim Aid will try to extend support during crisis of the Rohingya and other displaced people in all over the world.

What else ISDE Bangladesh is serving for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh?

Since the influx of Rohingya families from Myanmar (Burma) in August 2017, ISDE have been delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya in Bangladesh including cook food distribution, food items distribution, temporary shelter, Non Food Items household items, clothes, medical aid, treatment and medicine supply, water solutions and child-happiness centre establishment for the refugee children to overcome the trauma of violence they have faced in Burma before seeking refuge in Bangladesh. Nutrition food distribution to the Child happiness centers, awareness raising on safeguarding, disaster risk reduction, gender based violence, child rights convention, WASH, personal health and hygiene etc issues.

All the ISDE Bangladesh interventions were approved by the Government of Bangladesh and it has closely coordinated with the Refugee Relief and Repatriate Commissioner (RRRC) office, local Camp In Charge (CiC), local administration, law enforcing agencies of Bangladesh for the humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees, which means ISDE has unrestricted access to the refugee camps to deliver aid on your behalf.

Who are the Rohingya Refugees?

According to UNHCR, over a million Rohingya (Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) refugees have fled violence in Burma in successive waves of displacement since the early 1990s. The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim minority from Burma. The latest exodus began on 25 August 2017, when violence broke out in the Rakhine State, driving more than 723,000 to seek refuge in Bangladesh. The vast majority reaching Bangladesh are women and children, and more than 40 per cent are under the age of 12. Many others are elderly people requiring additional aid and protection.

They have nothing and they need everything:

The Rohingya (Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) who have fled to save their lives and families are now living in safety in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, but they are totally reliant on humanitarian aid agencies to support them to stay alive and sustain their families.