Save the Rohingya

Dear Friends,

It is August already! Seems like summer had just started. We all have been living through a challenging period and many are experiencing feelings of weariness brought on by the pandemic. Amid all this, hope is always around and we are glad to share some positive news about happenings at our Rohingya project that have taken place since April.

Here you go…

OBAT’s Clinic- a site of WHO’s immunization Program

OBAT’s health clinic in the Rohingya camps was selected by the WHO (World Health Organization) as one of the sites for hosting its immunization program. OBAT has now been offering an expanded immunization program in collaboration with WHO since July 11th. At present, 8-10 children and pregnant women are being vaccinated daily. This number will be increasing gradually over time.

Infant Kits Empower Rohingya Refugees

Bee Humble is a US based nonprofit focused on providing relief to refugee communities. In partnership with OBAT, Bee Humble ran a small pilot project to provide infant kits/cribs to the female beneficiaries of the OBAT Rohingya Clinic. 25 units of the kits were made as a pilot. The kits contained items such as baby clothes, baby mattresses, mosquito nets etc. The project has served as a tool for empowering Rohingya refugees as the bamboo cases for the cribs are made by them. All sewing work is also done by Rohingya women who have earlier received training from OBAT’s Women Empowerment Center. The pilot phase of the project finished in July and is expected to continue with further support from Bee Humble.

Two Eid Celebrations!

Since April, the Rohingya refugees have celebrated two main religious festivals. On the first one, Eid-ul-Fitr, (observed at the end of the holy month of Ramadan), OBAT facilitated a large food distribution in the Rohingya Camp, thanks to generous donations from partner organization, Refugee Crisis Foundation. Hundreds of Rohingya families benefitted from food packages that will last each family a couple of weeks. Food packages were also gifted by Mr. Fayyaz who has previously visited and volunteerd in our Rohingya program.

The second festival, Eid-ul-Adha was celebrated recently on August 1^st. On this occasion, financially sound Muslims sacrifice animals to commemorate the Abrahamic sacrifice and distribute their meat among the poor and needy. The Rohingya refugees received meat that they would not have been able to enjoy otherwise. Thanks to our donors, The Amdani family, FHII (Friends of Humanity International) and RCF (Refugee Crisis Foundation), the refugees received meat from the sacrifice of 25 cows and 3 goats.

Updates from Health Clinic and Learning Centers

OBAT is also continuing to assist and support Rohingya refugees in the Kutupalong Camp on a daily basis, providing emergency healthcare services at its Health Post. All other projects in the camp have been halted by the Bangladesh Government, as Bangladesh entered a lockdown in March. With the confirmation of COVID-19 in the Rohingya Camp, our clinic team, which enters the camp each day, is ensuring they are maintaining the highest standards of disease prevention and wears extensive personal protective equipment. Our Ukhiya-based office team is continuing to work safely in isolation. We are monitoring the situation as it develops and acting according to the advice of the Bangladesh Government, the World Health Organization, and relevant camp authorities.

Due to the severity of the situation and the lockdown that Bangladesh entered into in late March, the decision was made by the Bangladesh Government and camp authorities in April to suspend all projects in the Rohingya Camp, except for emergency healthcare services and essential food aid delivery.

We are so proud of the medical team and praise their efforts for working in the field during these challenging times. Our medical team worked hard all through Ramadan, the month of fasting, with health partners, RCF and MedGlobal to provide emergency medical treatment to the Rohingya population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Total number of patients treated at the clinic this year up until July are 19,161.

Our Learning Centers are moving toward home-based learning, facilitated by the Education Sector that oversees the work of all nonprofits working in the refugee camp. UNICEF distributed books for all the students of the Learning Centers. The teachers are now carrying out home visits and visiting each child on an average of twice a week.

We also released our 2019 annual report since we last talked to you. You helped us achieve a ton of good in 2019- Read all about it in our special 15 year edition of the 2019 Annual Report. 

Every bit of your support continues to count and make a huge difference. It is with great pleasure and integrity that we give shape to your dreams of a socially equitable world.

Keep sharing our Rohingya Relief project, http://goto.gg/30136 with others and continue spreading the work to broaden the impact.

Stay safe and Be well.

Talk to you in October!

Your OBAT Family.

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Dear friends,

We have all been living in uncertain times. Hope that during this unnatural order of things we are experiencing, you have found comfort in your loved ones. Thanks to technology, we can minimize the effects of isolation and still feel a part of each other’s lives and worlds.

OBAT’s educational programs in Bangladesh have been closed as well as a preventative measure against COVID-19. So far, we have been lucky and no case has been detected. However, the potential for the disease to spread is high and can lead to disastrous consequences due to the cramped living conditions as well as the lack of hygiene in the camps.

In this grim atmosphere, we wanted to give you a reason to smile and would like to share with you many positive updates that have happened since we last shared news with you about the Rohingya projects:

Student Assessments Ensure Provision of Quality Education

During January, all OBAT students in levels 1 and 2 in the Rohingya Learning Centers, were evaluated based on their performance in the December examinations.
Our Education Team worked hard to adjust class lists accordingly, ensuring that children who passed the exams moved up a level for the new year of learning. Evaluation and assessments are vital to ensuring  that quality education is provided and that the children's abilities have grown as a result of the education we provide. Our team held parent meetings for all our 23 Learning Centers, and parents were given progress cards that reported on last year's performance of their children.

Digital Learning assessments are being conducted at present as well, with the assistance of Teach the World Foundation (TTWF), OBAT's partner organization. The results will not only determine which students advance to the next level of study but will also provide useful data to the TTWF team, which they will use to continue studying the impact of a Digital Learning curriculum on students' learning outcomes worldwide. Learning Center 1's teacher, Ubaidua, proudly shared with us that all his students scored above 90 percent on their exam two weeks ago.

New Digital Learning Program for 84 Rohingya Youth

 OBAT Helpers USA and Prantic Unnayan Society are partners in providing 180 children in the Rohingya Camp and Host Community with access to 'Digital Learning' education, with partnering organization, Teach the World Foundation. OBAT is now expanding the current Digital Learning Project to reach youth and adolescents. Youth and adolescents are a neglected and vulnerable demographic in the camp, with limited opportunities to access education, life skills sessions, and capacity building. This group is vulnerable to joining radicalized groups, child marriage, human trafficking, and child labor. Thus their engagement in programming such as our new project, will serve to minimize this vulnerability. Our new project will mean that 84 vulnerable youth and adolescents have the opportunity to engage in classes that will build their capacity in English, Burmese, Mathematics and Life Skills, as well as build their confidence.

Enrollment of adolescent girls and boys took place in January, and at present, nearly all the spots in this new project have been filled! We anticipate that classes will be able to begin in the coming weeks.

Rohingya Children Receive Psycho-Social Support Through Volunteer Initiatives

"Dear Child," is a letter to refugee children in picture book form, created by Jade, Founder of Humanitarian Picture Books. Jade is a humanitarian specialized in Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation and holds a Masters degree in International Development and Humanitarian Crisis Response. Jade spent 10 days with us in the Kutupalong Camp, assisting with various areas of education and health programming, as well as researching for her picture book through dialogues and interactions with Rohingya children and adults.

Humanitarian Picture Books 'convenes crisis-affected communities, story tellers, humanitarian actors, and artists to deliver tailored, healing stories to children coping with crisis.'

They are an organisation on the forefront of what is needed most in the camps- psychosocial support.

Thank you to Jade for everything, and for gifting copies of her precious book, "Dear Child." The kids adore them!

Rohingya Projects Receive Teams from North American Universities

John is a Neuberger-Jesin Professor of International Conflict Resolution in the Faculty of Law, and Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre, at the University of Ottawa. He has held a professional career in the field of international human rights, diplomacy and security for over 30 years, having worked in the United Nations and serving as a current adviser to the UN and many international NGOs and human rights organizations. Professor Packer and his Research Assistant, Anne-Lise, visited the Health Post of OBAT Helpers, and spoke to a group of Rohingya community members there, as their visit coincided with the most recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Rohingya case put forward by Gambia. Professor Packer led a discussion about the ICJ case, asking the Rohingya community members gathered about their thoughts and opinions on the trial, and what it meant for their people.

 A team of researchers from the University of Arizona led by Professor Simmons, visited the OBAT Office in Ukhiya as well, to learn about the projects OBAT runs in the camp and Host Community. Professor Simmons and his team recently received a grant from National Geographic to implement a study and project with Rohingya children. They are currently conducting a site visit to determine the scope and format of their future study. The team visited our Host Community Digital Learning class and was impressed by the level of community engagement OBAT and our partner organization Prantic ensure when implementing all projects. The University of Arizona team donated a framed picture to us, drawn by a student of a high school in Dhaka about the Rohingya Crisis- the picture was hung up in our office.

Art Project of Children Brightens up Clinic

In the bleak environment of the camp, especially in the somber atmosphere in the clinic, cheeriness is often missing and much needed. Volunteer Jade  tried to add some cheer by bringing her art supplies and materials to our Health Post for days of art making and poster creating with the children in the Rohingya clinic's waiting room. The children had so much fun drawing on large colorful posters and were so happy to see their work displayed in clinic at the end of the day. Patients and staff love the new cheerful clinic décor and the children have since often returned to see their work on display.

WHO Donates Two Truck-loads of Medical Supplies to Rohingya Clinic

The World Health Organization donates medicines for OBAT's Health Clinic from time to time. The medicines and supplies come in really handy for keeping our pharmacy fully stocked. The latest donation arrived in late January and comprised of two truck-loads of 24 different medicines and medical supplies. We are very grateful to WHO for helping us provide quality care to the patients visiting our clinic.

OBAT Institute Measures to Address Potential Spread of COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are thinking of all our OBAT family, our staff, supporters and beneficiaries, and wishing them safety and health. We are especially and deeply concerned about the outbreak’s potential devastating impact where we serve, in the displaced population camps as well as Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.

As a matter of safety and precaution, OBAT has been proactive in implementing measures, some of which include: 

-Classes in educational programs suspended until April 15^th until further notice

– Temporarily suspended hosting international volunteers while ensuring we are able to retain maximum capacity through the use of local resources

– In the Rohingya refugee camps, prior to the temporary closure of our Learning Centers, all education administration staff, teachers and monitoring officers underwent extensive COVID-19 awareness and prevention training, which assisted them in improving awareness in the Rohingya camp among the community surrounding our Learning Centers.

-All of our health team staff and staff from our partner organizations, MedGlobal and RCF, attended an Infectious Disease Prevention training. This training will be integral in ensuring our health facility can continue to run and support the Rohingya population in the face of this emerging public health reality. To ensure communication is maintained on key issues, the Clinic Team really stepped up in March, implementing more frequent meetings, and enforcing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocols strictly. Our Medical Coordinator Dr. Sohel Rana is confidently leading the team and assessing the COVID-19 situation daily, in coordination with the World Health Organization, the Health Sector and the Bangladesh Government, and making urgent protocol changes in clinic as necessary

– OBAT is constantly in contact with the WHO, others in the UN health sector, and local Bangladeshi authorities for updates and guidance to protect the vulnerable communities we serve.

We are very grateful that as of now, there have been no cases identified. We are committed to continue to serve those in need as they remain most vulnerable to such challenges and will institute more measures if the situation evolves.

New Dental Chair Installed at Rohingya Health Clinic

OBAT's Clinic for Rohingya refugees just received a fully-equipped new dental chair set up for its facilities at the clinic. The dental chair was a generous donation from Refugee Crisis Foundation which has been partnering with OBAT since 2018 to provide much needed dental services for the refugees. OBAT's Clinic is the only clinic in the Kutupalong refugee camp to have this added facility for treatment of patients.

Our team is very excited about this addition! The dentists employed by RCF were already recognized  all over the Rohingya camp as being the best dentists around, and this new addition will further improve the level of excellence of services provided. The dental unit is ready to go after addition of concrete flooring to the clinic to provide a stable surface to the clinic. Thank you to our partner, Refugee Crisis Foundation!

 Visitors Continue to Bring Joy into the Projects

 Mr. Hathia from France, was another visitor . He spent the day visiting projects in the Rohingya camps. Mr. Hathia was thrilled with his visit, which included seeing the OBAT Health Post and the Learning Centers. He was particularly enthusiastic about the Digital Learning Program that is operating in Learning Centers 3 and 4, and in two Host Community classrooms.A team from the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society (BDRS), which included our previous Medical Coordinator Dr Bayezeed, also visited the Rohingya Clinic and met the team and patients at the Clinic.

 Rohingya Learning Centers Hummed with Activity During March

 Many of OBAT's Learning Centers in the Rohingya Camps were recently repaired by local and Rohingya volunteer laborers in the Kutupalong Camp. The repairs include re-daubing the mud-walls and strengthening the overall structure. The repairs are a very exciting development for our students, and were made possible by the generosity of OBAT Helpers' sponsors. The organization, Save the Children, repaired the fencing boundary surrounding 3 Learning Centers.

The children were also very enthused by the new materials provided to them to assist with their wellbeing and with their studies. The children in the Camp 8W Learning Centers received brand new reusable water bottles, provided to them by Practical Action, in coordination with the Camp in Charge. The children in our Host Community Digital Learning Educational Program were very happy to receive new drawing books by our staff, as gifts for their performance in recent assessments.

A meeting with the teachers was held in the OBAT Community Center, with positive feedback and reception by all camp residents and the management team.

UNICEF Provides Workbooks for At-Home Learning

 Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Education Sector in the Kutupalong Rohingya Refugee Camp has stressed the importance of all children enrolled in Learning Centers in the camp to continue their studies from home while the closure of Learning Centers continues. UNICEF has delivered new workbooks for all OBAT students, which will be distributed  to ensure minimal disruption to the education of our young learners.

We hope that the next time we get in touch with you, our world has gained some normalcy. Meanwhile, do keep the camp residents in your prayers. You will always be in ours.

Be well,

Your friends at OBAT.

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Hello folks,

A very Happy New Year to all of you!  Hope the New Year has been full of much zest, energy and all things good for you.  Since we last shared updates with you about the Rohingya program you support, a ton more has already happened. Here you go!

Children Contribute to Camp Clean Up!

Late last month, the students of OBAT's Learning Centers participated in a camp cleaning campaign in Rohingya camp 8W, blocks E and F.  The children were taught about waste management, disposal and hygiene by the CIC (Camp in Charge), SMS (Site Management), and a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) focal point. They enthusiastically contributed to the effort, cleaning the entirety of the two     blocks! Well done, students!

Six Doctors from Indianapolis Volunteer in OBAT's Clinic 

For the first time, a team of Doctors from the Franciscan Health Group, journeyed all the way from Indianapolis, OBAT's home ground, to volunteer at the OBAT Clinic for Rohingya refugees.

The team included: Dr. Kevin McNulty, Dr. Hira Naqvi, Dr. Kami Smith, Dr. Jeffrey Jones, Dr. Gregory Specht and Dr. Adam Paarlberg. The Doctors spent their time treating patients at the Rohingya Medical Clinic. The clinic treats an average of 300 patients per day. We are extremely grateful to the team for lending their time and expertise to provide life-saving treatment to the Rohingya refugees.

A team of 7 Dermatologists from RCF (Refugee Crisis Foundation) volunteered at the OBAT clinic during December. RCF is an ongoing partner of OBAT and the UK based organization regularly sends two dentists to staff OBAT's clinic.  The team collectively attended to over 350 patients during their visit. The group included world-renowned dermatologist, Christopher Griffiths, Foundation Professor of Dermatology at the University of Manchester. The team also conducted a training of the clinic staff and collected data. They had a great experience working at the clinic and are keen to work with OBAT in the future. 

Another volunteer doctor, Sebastião Martins, from Portugal, finished his 2 month long volunteering stint at the clinic as well.

Thank you to all these selfless individuals!

Dr. Wasty Follows Up With  Rohingya Eyesight Restoration Program

OBAT Canada's  founder, Dr. Shujaat Wasty, visited Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp recently.

He met with several beneficiaries from the Rohingya Eyesight Restoration Program, some of whom are finally able to see, after as long as 12 excruciatingly long years.

During the meetings, beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude for the gift of sight and vision. Many beneficiaries also shared their harrowing stories of escape from genocide in Myanmar, most of whom had to do so without being able to see.  Dr. Wasty  also serves as Vice-President on OBAT Helpers Inc.'s board and is a frequent visitor to the camps.

Purdue University's MSA Dedicates Refugee Gala to OBAT

 The Muslim Student Association of Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, recently held a Refugee Gala in support of refugees all over the world. The student association generously donated the proceeds of the Gala to OBAT's work for Rohingya refugees. The event was attended by students upwards of 100-some parents accompanied their children as well. As a part of the engaging program, the audience were able to watch a short video about the Rohingya crisis and OBAT's work to address it. Thank you to the Purdue MSA and to all those who attended!

Rebuilt Playground Restores Children's Smiles

Thank you to Dr. Henna Qureshi (OBAT's board member & lead consultant on medical committee for OBAT's clinics), for raising funds to rebuild a playground built by OBAT for Rohingya children. This playground was destroyed during the monsoon season, leaving no area for the kids to enjoy their childhood. This playground is the only recreation space available for children in the entire area.  

Rohingya Women Empowerment Center Produces Quality Clothing

While we seek funding opportunities to continue and expand the sewing project for Rohingya women, the project continues to operate on a small-scale, with 12 women currently enrolled in it. The great news is that many volunteers and visitors purchase clothing made in the center because they are so impressed with the workmanship of the refugee women! The skills women gain at these centers help them to become empowered and gives them a sustainable source of income.

Volunteers Visit and Revisit!

OBAT is fortunate to have the support of many volunteers. Several of them are deeply impacted by their experiences and return to help more. Philippa Nilsson is one such volunteer. Philippa is a much-loved return volunteer. She worked with OBAT in the very beginning, when the Rohingya crisis was unfolding and has returned to volunteer with OBAT in the Rohingya camp four times since then! In her last visit in December, she also purchased some of the clothing in the Women's Empowerment Center that was made by Rohingya women in our Sewing Project.

Researcher and Professor of Psychology, Dr.  Tara Callaghan from Canada's St. Francis Xavier University, visited all of OBAT's Rohingya Relief projects in December. She was thoroughly impressed with the services and aid OBAT is providing in the camp. Dr. Callaghan would like to pursue a partnership with OBAT Helpers for her research project in 2020. The project will be focusing on developing the social and emotional well-being of Rohingya children. 

Aysha Al-Sharbity Khandaker, former Director on OBAT's board, coordinated a team of volunteers (Hind, Manal and Mishar) at the Rohingya projects. The group taught students at our learning centers and also helped out with construction work carried out to repair some Learning Centers.

Hope you enjoyed reading our new year updates! We sure do appreciate your help in bringing much needed relief to Rohingya refugees. Do share this project with your friends and families and invite more support for this crisis.  Thank you again!

Until next time!

Your friends at OBAT!

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Dear friends,

This past August marked two years since the exodus of the Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh began. The Rohingya fled to escape persecution and genocide and sought safety and protection in Bangladesh. They settled in what is now known as the largest refugee camp in the world- the Kutupalong Camp. As the crisis unfolded on its doorstep, OBAT made a strategic decision to provide assistance in its immediate aftermath.

Two years later, OBAT continues to actively support Rohingya refugees. We can't change their past, but we are determined to help them change their future. Here are the different ways you helped us make a difference in their lives since you last heard from us:

OBAT's Digital Learning Program is Attracting Widespread Interest

OBAT was delighted to provide UNICEF representatives with a tour of the pilot digital learning program in Temporary Learning Center # 8! The children loved the visit to their unique learning space. UNICEF expressed great interest in this innovative teaching method. Many organizations are very interested in this pilot program and we are always happy to provide tours and information on this project. We are very proud of our digital learning program and partnership with Teach the World Foundation and intend to scale this project with the help of our supporters.

Visit by MIT Explored Possible Partnership with OBAT

Martha Thompson from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) visited OBAT's projects in the Rohingya refugee camps recently.  Martha's visit was geared toward exploring a possible collaboration of MIT with OBAT in the Rohingya Camps.  She is a humanitarian worker with a focus on gender and exclusion in crisis situations and has set up MIT Design and Innovation Labs in refugee settings earlier. 

OBAT assisted Martha with the coordination of the needs assessment she was conducting in the Rohingya Camp. She was a lovely guest and was very grateful for the  hospitality, translators and volunteers that OBAT provided to support her work.

Palliative Care Services Offered to Rohingya Refugees

OBAT is now offering palliative care, a service which greatly relieves the suffering of terminally ill patients, to the Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong Camp. No other organization is providing this essential service in the camp currently.Watch this video  to see how OBAT is helping improve the lives of patients and their families.

UNICEF Provided Books for Rohingya Students

OBAT's Humanitarian Assistance Program for Rohingya refugees recently received new books from UNICEF. The books covered  various subjects such as Burmese, Math, English, Life skills and Science. Some story books were donated as well. Besides the text and story books, UNICEF  also donated teacher guides which will help teachers plan their lessons for the school year. Thank you to UNICEF for their generous contribution!

 Palliative Care Training Educated Health Workers

To foster a better understanding of Palliative Care, training was provided to OBAT's Community Health Workers (CHW's) in the Rohingya camps. Community Health Workers go door to door to provide health care to patients who cannot travel to the clinic.

The training was conducted by Dr. Farzana and Dr. Anna. The objective of the training was to help the CHW's learn more about  palliative care including how to deal with and help palliative care patients. Thank you to Dr. Farzana and Dr. Anna for providing the training to improve our health services.

 Digital Learning Control Group Assessments in Action!

 We are excited to grow our Digital Learning Program which is now running in TLC (Temporary Learning Center) # 4 of the Kutupalong Camp as well.  The program was piloted initially at TLC # 8. In both the classes, initial assessments took place recently to determine the students' strength.

 Visitors Enriched the Lives of Rohingya Refugees

 Visitors always bring much joy whenever they visit. Recently, we had a few visitors who added a special touch to the lives of the camp residents. Marwa and Abeer were two young ladies who visited from Oman. They created a play area for the children in OBAT's clinic for Rohingya refugees. The children love to play in the otherwise somber environment of the clinic and the mothers enjoy the free child care too. Marwar and Abeer also visited several of OBAT's projects. 

Mandy and Farhana were another two special volunteers who visited several of OBAT's projects: learning centers, clinics and empowerment centers for women. Mandy is a part-time astrologer who lives in the US and Farhana is a teacher from Singapore. 

Thank you to all of them for giving their time and efforts and most of all, for making the camp residents feel loved and cared for.

Friends, we will keep sharing new updates with you as we continue to move forward. 

September 27th marked 15 years to the day OBAT was formed as a nonprofit serving the destitute communities in Bangladesh. In August of 2017, OBAT took the lessons learned from the foundation it built, to address the Rohingya crisis. We are grateful to each one of you for helping us address this humongous crisis and for giving us the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people in the Rohingya camps. Thank you for standing with us!

We look forward to sharing new updates and progress made a couple of months from now! Please share this project with your friends and families and encourage them to help the Rohingya community by spreading awareness or through financial support.

 Our best to you,

 Your OBAT Family.

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Dear friends,

Thank you for your continued support for OBAT’s Rohingya Relief Program. Because of you, many lives are staying afloat. Even though the monsoon rains have been causing extensive damage in the camps, there is always a ray of sunshine to be found. In this report, we are sharing with you all the good that you have enabled since you last heard from us. Here are some highlights:

Rohingya children receive culturally sensitive books

Books Unbound works with Rohingya refugees to develop a culturally sensitive curriculum, allowing the refugees to take education into their own hands. They develop picture dictionaries with vocabulary specifically tailored to the Rohingya lifestyle. With multiple learning levels and topics, these picture dictionaries serve as culturally appropriate learning. Books Unbound recently distributed their books among the Rohingya children at OBAT's learning centers.

Medical supplies received from partnering organizations 

Malaysian Field Hospital recently made a donation of medical supplies to OBAT. These will be used at OBAT's two medical clinics for Rohingya refugees that treat over 400 patients a day. The World Health Organization also provided $3,500 worth of medical supplies.  We really appreciate the support of partners like MSF and WHO as it enables us to provide excellent services at the medical clinics.

Students given medicine to safeguard against infections

The terrible living conditions in the Rohingya camps make the food and water sources contaminated, which makes the kids prone to parasitic worm infections. Students of OBAT's learning centers were recently given the medicine Mebendazole, to prevent such infections. Healthy children not only affect the general wellbeing of the community but also increase their attendance in school.

Interfaith iftar supports Rohingya refugees

May 25th saw a powerful display of interfaith service, when Muslim, Jewish and interfaith organizations in Indianapolis, OBAT’s US headquarters, joined together for a fundraising iftar for OBAT's work for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. MC Emily Longnecker from local TV channel WTHR, kept the audience engaged as key note speakers Mindy and Rabbi Jeff Glickman and other visitors to the camps, Kristin Wright and Fatima Hussain spoke about witnessing the impact of OBAT during their visits. Eh Too Rah and Rabbi Brett recited Christian and Jewish prayers while Imam Ahmed Alamine recited the adhann at the time of the Muslim prayer. We are grateful to all our participants, sponsors, guests, speakers and volunteers for coming together for an inspiring interfaith evening. A special shout out to the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) for taking the initiative to raise awareness for the Rohingya crisis and for being the lead sponsor for this event.

 500 Students Receive Eid Clothes

With the help of AWARD and OBAT's Think Tank in Chittagong, Eid clothes were distributed among 500 students in the Learning Centers for Rohingya children. Eid is a festive holiday celebrated in the Rohingya community. The children have been prospering in the healthy environment of the Learning Centers which is a sharp contrast from the trauma they have been through. Their life is still full of difficulties and challenges in the camp environment and we are thankful to both the Think Tank and to AWARD for spreading this joy among the students.

 United States' Ambassador Visits Rohingya Camps

United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. Earl R. Miller, observed World Refugee day by visiting the Rohingya camps. Together with his wife and other refugees, he participated in a rally and walked two miles to express his solidarity and support for the refugee population. We are grateful for Mr. Earl's support and participation in this important day that serves to bring attention to the plight of refugees.

 OBAT's US Headquarters Observes World Refugee Day

On June 20th, World Refugee Day, OBAT's headquarters in Indianapolis, United States, held a mini photo exhibit at the Indiana Interchurch Center. On display were powerful and poignant stories of Rohingya refugees who crossed hundreds of miles on foot to escape persecution and find safety and hope in Bangladesh.

Thank you once again for your support. Feel free to reach us anytime at contact@obathelpers.org for any queries. Keep up to date with the progress of our programs at www.facebook.com/obat.helpers.

Until next time!

OBAT team.

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