Rohingya refugees call Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh their temporary home. It is the biggest refugee camp in the world and is extremely overcrowded. Living in shelters is hardly a place one can call home but a roof over their heads provides some form of shelter for our brothers and sisters.
Five years ago, at the height of the tragedy, thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled their home. Fear drove this ethnic minority out of Myanmar, where they were denied citizenship, to avoid ethnic and religious persecution.
Taking fate into their own hands, they manoeuvred jungles, scaled mountains, and endured treacherous sea passages to arrive in Bangladesh - a country that is prone to natural disasters (cyclones, flooding, and landslides). And that is their new home.
Al Fitrah Foundation has been running food and medical programs – with collaborative partners – to help refugees in Malaysia for several years now.
At times we have been able to channel support through partners on the ground at various locations.
This time, Al Fitrah Foundation will be working with Ustaz Rohim Ullah from Madrassa Ma’had Khaled bin Waleed (R) Al-Islam at Nayapara camp, to help Rohingya refugees. A one-year food program for the community has been initiated. Basic items, such as rice and flour, are being delivered to the facility, which are then portioned and distributed to selected families.
On 7 November 2022, a small ceremony was held at the Madrassa to mark the collaboration. Several students attended.
We are lucky to be able to work with a trusted and respected person on the ground to ensure our contribution reaches the needy. Ustaz Rohim Ullah teaches religious studies at the Madrassa. Together with six other teachers, he runs the centre that provides education to 120 students and 32 orphans (boys and girls).
We hope our involvement will in a way help ease their burden.
May Allah protect and keep them safe. Aamiin
