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Stories from Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Lost Together

Written by Communication Officer - 14 February 2018 - 3 min read

Walking is not always easy for Aaid. Yet when violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, Aaid, 73,  found himself running for his life. His village and his home burned as he ran, a ruin of fire and smoke.

“I ran with my wife, daughter, and grandson to get to safety. We hid when we could, we ran when we could. It was a three-day journey. We couldn’t bring any food. Our land and our cows, our clothes and our house – we had to leave it all behind.

And then the worst thing happened. My wife and grandson were shot.

I cried! I wanted to stay with them, but when they died I had to leave them behind, because people were still coming after us. I had to take care of my daughter.

We saw a boy crying on the side of the road, calling ‘Mum?’ ‘Dad?’ It was so heartbreaking to see him. There were no parents or guardians or anyone there for him…”

"And then the worst thing happened. My wife and grandson were shot." Aaid, 73

As gunfire filled the air, Aaid gathered the boy in his arms and carried him to safety. It was a terrifying journey, but Aaid, his daughter, and the lost boy made it to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh—three of 655,000 Rohingya refugees to arrive there seeking refuge.

“When we came here to the camp, people and organisations helped us. We have had enough to eat fortunately. But we need a shelter.”

 

Thanks to your support, Medair’s Global Emergency Response team supported World Concern (Bangladesh) in providing shelter materials and hygiene supplies to Aaid and more than 4,500 refugee families.

“We are very thankful for these materials. We will set up the shelter soon as the one we have now has a lot of holes and is not good quality. This one will be strong.”

Aaid now cares for the young boy, John, as if he were his own son. They have lost so much, so suddenly. They cling to one another.

“I miss my wife every single day. I miss her the most of all that I’ve lost.”

Your monthly gifts support the Rohingya people with shelter, hygiene supplies, and nutrition clinics for the malnourished. Sign up for monthly giving.

Medair is in Bangladesh to support the work of World Concern (BGD), and our presence there is made possible by Swiss Solidarity, Tearfund (UK), World Concern (US), and the generous support of private donors.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.