STRAITSTIMES
Drawings of houses on fire, mass shooting fields and multiple dead bodies hanging from the tree branches were drawn by young Rohingya children.
These were the images etched in the minds of the children, and were slowly removed through playtime at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) supported Child-Friendly Spaces; allowing children to be themselves once again.
“Now these very same children who drew houses on fire, helicopters, mass shooting field, and even images of dead bodies hanging from trees, are drawing flowers and other beautiful things.
“It’s important for children to be children and through the power of playtime, they can recover and be themselves once again,” said Lisa, who is the national ambassador for Unicef Malaysia.
Unicef Malaysia ambassador Lisa Surihani carries a child at the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar on April 3. -NSTP/Courtesy of UNICEF
Spending four days in the world’s largest refugee camp also shifted her perspective to think of what she already has, than to think of what she doesn’t.
“Going there and experiencing the whole situation was very overwhelming to me. However, I just needed to see it for myself.
“To see how the place has become home to more than one million Rohingya refugees and helped them to continue on with their lives has been a very humbling experience to me,” she said at a press conference today.
Despite the changes that can be seen in the refugees, Lisa said more needs to be done as the situation on the ground remains dire, especially facilities for children.
Currently, there are 1,600 learning centres for children to learn informal education and also to ensure they can continue to learn even when they are in the refugee camps.
“However, this is not enough. We need to do more and I want Malaysians to know that their generous contribution and donation has helped so many to continue living.
“Aid works do save lives. I saw for myself how humanitarian workers came together to relieve the pain and suffering of the refugees, especially the children living inside the camps.
“They have lost everything; their homes, job, families, citizenship. They, however, have survived atrocities. We cannot turn a blind eye to their plight. It’s not right that children are forced to endure such harsh conditions today,” said the mother of two young children.
For the future wellbeing and development of the children in the refugee camps, Unicef Malaysia representative Marianne Clark-Hattingh said they hope to raise RM1 million throughout the month of Ramadan to support Unicef’s work in the refugee camp.
Unicef Malaysia ambassador Lisa Surihani (left) with Unicef Malaysia representative Marianne Clark-Hattingh at Wisma E&C. - NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH
“The children living in these camps are at risk of being left behind, and Lisa’s mission brings their plight closer to home. Every ringgit counts and will help give these children hope for a better future,” she said.
Together with the Bangladesh government and other United Nations agencies, Unicef has worked around the clock to provide lifesaving aid and services, responding to growing humanitarian needs with interventions in nutrition, health, child protection, education and access to safe water.
For more information on ways to donate to the Rohingya Refugee Appeal, the public can log on to https://www.unicef.my/donations/wesupportrohingya/
Link :https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/478871/donate-and-help-renew-hope-refugee-children
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