200,000 Rohingya children at risk: UNICEF

MNA Exclusive Desk: More than 200,000 Rohingya children, who have fled persecution in Myanmar to Bangladesh, are at risk of health hazards, according to the UNICEF.

“This is a growing humanitarian crisis and children are at the heart of this crisis. Some 60 per cent of all refugees are children according to preliminary data,” said Jean Lieby, chief of child protection, UNICEF Bangladesh on Tuesday.

In a briefing note, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official said the Rohingyas are facing an unprecedented influx of Rohingya refugees who are coming from Myanmar and crossing into Bangladesh.

“The first thing you see here in the different Rohingya camps is the large number of children. You see children who have not slept for days, they are weak and hungry,” said the official.

After such a long and challenging journey, many children are sick and they need health care right away. Children are traumatized.

The UNICEF official said they are particularly concerned for the children separated. “So far, thanks to our partners and our network of child friendly spaces and learning centres, so far, we have identified 1,128 children who are separated. However, we expect this number to increase a lot in the coming days.”