Since 2017, Operation Mobilisation (OM)’s partner organisation has been sending teams once or twice a month from the capital city to the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar where an estimated 700,000 Rohingya have fled violence in Myanmar since last summer.
The teams have developed a good relationship with the army and in April were asked to assist in the distribution of food and supplies to families that did not have enough.
1,000 families
A small team was able to distribute items to 1,000 families, including food, soap and umbrellas for protection from the sweltering summer sun and coming monsoon rains. The following day, team members spent time with children, giving them protection from the sun, cutting their nails, combing their hair, praying silently over them and making them feel noticed and loved.
‘We’re aware that it’s just [a] little we can do, but we know God called us to not look away, but do something,’ shared programme coordinator Pastor Saul. ‘When we pray, “Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven,” what do we pray? Is there hunger in heaven? Homelessness? No. If we as Christians pray this prayer, we also need to act. Prayer is not enough. We need to help as well.’
OM’s partner wants to move from distribution to a long-term presence in the camps and surrounding community. A couple of short- & long-term workers have recently come to Bangladesh with the goal of building up a longer-lasting work in this area.
Sophia, one of those working to establish the office near Cox’s Bazar, joined the distribution efforts in April. She shared that, as the team members greeted the women and children, most returned their smiles. Sophia said she felt the presence of hope in the camps, but also much fear as the monsoon season approaches.
‘Everything they are building now might be destroyed in the coming weeks and months,’ she said. Real fears exist that the temporary shelters that have been established ‘will be demolished through the heavy rain and winds, roads will be inaccessible for aid, families will be separated through landslides, panics, evacuation; latrines will overrun, the access to drinking water will be cut and diseases will spread.’
OM’s partner aims to work towards a sustained presence among this resilient and hopeful people, remaining long after the rains have stopped.
