World Vision urges to protect Rohingya refugee children

World Vision Bangladesh on Monday urged to protect Rohingys refugee children who fled the violence in Rakhine, Myanmar.

Fred Witteveen, national director, World Vision Bangladesh, said World Vision is pleased to commemorate Universal Children’s Day (Nov 20) this year will focus on the theme, ‘It’s a # kids take over’.

“I wish to emphasize the importance of protecting children of the Myanmar – Bangladesh refugee crisis ensuring who are overlooked, unaccompanied; those particularly girls who face additional risks in emergencies and we need to protect them.” he said.

He also said that World Vision is running child friendly spaces and youth child spaces for refugee children, providing separated and unaccompanied children with 6-hour care, while family tracing and reunification services take place.

“We believe that child protection, including prevention and response activities aimed at sexual and gender-based violence, and education for forcibly displaced children, should be prioritized in any phase of the response alongside food, shelter, and wash,” he added.

At the camps, there have been reports of missing children, who are feared victims of child trafficking.

“Unfortunately, the refugees here are either silent or ignorant about child protection issues - maybe because they’re already too distressed from their situation and language barrier is also a major issue,” said Darren D’ Costa, World Vision child protection officer.

“I spoke to parents and witnessed their overwhelming sadness and fears at not being able to protect their kids. Beside this proper security is huge issue for the huge population in the camps,” he added.

World Vision has started setting up the 40 Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) to protect them from the worst outcomes of displacement, which include trafficking, trauma, and violence at the refugee camps, targeting at least 4,000 refugee children.

Local volunteers are facilitating the CFS through drawing, singing, and teaching children on basic hygiene and sanitation. The staffs on the ground continue to collaborate with the government and partner agencies to strengthen child protection mechanisms.