Oxfam Canada thanks Canadians for their generosity in helping Rohingya refugees

(OTTAWA) Oxfam Canada would like to thank Canadians who opened their hearts and wallets to help deliver life-saving aid to Rohingya refugees, more than half of whom are women and girls in need of protection.

Since August, more than 646,000 Rohingya people have crossed over to Bangladesh. The overcrowded camps are inadequate to support such a massive influx of people. Homeless and hungry, more than 70 per cent of the newly arrived have no shelter, and only 50 per cent have access to safe drinking water.

Today, the Government of Canada announced it is contributing $12.5 million to its Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund, fulfilling a pledge to match funds raised by Canadian charities during the #ActionRohingya campaign from August 25 to November 28, 2017.

Oxfam Canada and fellow members of the Humanitarian Coalition together raised more than $6.2 million during that period.

“For the Rohingya women I met in Bangladesh, these funds will make a world of difference. The generosity of Canadians will help ensure that organizations like Oxfam can address the unique needs of women and girls, who are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence and exploitation in the camps,” said Brittany Lambert, Oxfam Canada Women’s Rights Policy & Advocacy Specialist.

Oxfam has already reached more than 185,000 people with life-saving aid, including clean drinking water, portable toilets and sanitation facilities, plastic sheets, and other essential supplies. Additional funds will allow us to save even more lives.

-30-