The Rohingya refugees, who have already suffered Bangladesh’s stifling heat and monsoon rains, are now bracing themselves for a harsh winter; and with a lack of warm clothing this only adds to their ongoing misery. At the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar (Southern Bangladesh), doctors are warning against the increased risk of an outbreak of cold-borne diseases, such as respiratory tract infections.
In such conditions it is the children that are the most vulnerable. During winter, the temperature in Cox’s Bazar dips to around 10–15 degrees, with December and January being the most unbearable months.
So, as winter is fast approaching, the Rohingya children need warm clothes and having bared this in mind, The Sreepur Village has already made some winter clothes for the very young. To date, we have made 1,306 fleece hoodies for the smallest and most vulnerable children (under one-year-old).
During the second week of December, The Sreepur Village will, in person, be distributing these products to the young Rohingya children. We believe that these warm hoodies can, at least, protect some of the most vulnerable children from winter’s severest weather conditions.
A few days ago, Pat received the hoodies made by DBL Group, a local garment factory in Mawna Fashions Limited, Gazipur. Most of the fabrics were provided by Crystal Martin Apparels Bangladesh Ltd. and The Sreepur Village.
The photos show Mr Salahuddin Ahmed, DGM, from the Industrial Engineering department of DBL Group, handing the finished garments to Pat. Mr Shafiqul Islam, Senior Manager, HR, and other management from DBL were also present.
Life can sometimes throw unimaginable challenges at us, but it's the human spirit's resilience and determination that can lead to remarkable stories of triumph.
Lia's life is a testament to this spirit, marked by adversity, courage, and ultimate success. Lia's story draws parallels to other stories of perseverance, and highlights the crucial role of organisations like Sreepur Village in transforming lives.
Out of the blue, at the tender age of 13, Chia found herself sitting on a bridal stage, about to marry a man who was 35 years old. Her parents had arranged the match, finding the man from their nearby locality in Bhairab.
He was a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) businessman who occasionally sold vegetables and fruits on the street. Chia's aspirations and youthful dreams were abruptly interrupted by this sudden marriage. Instead of books, she found herself with kitchen utensils in her hands. She went from feeling like a princess to becoming a servant overnight.