One day left for Canadians to double their impact and help Rohingya children at risk

November 28 is the last day to have individual donations to the crisis in Bangladesh and Myanmar matched by the Government of Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2017 /CNW/ - As the Rohingya crisis worsens by the day, Canadians have one day left to make double the difference for children in urgent need. Tomorrow is the last day of the Government of Canada's Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund, which is matching individual donations to help scale up the humanitarian support that is desperately needed.

Rohingya refugees carry their personal effects, as they make their way through the winding and complex alleys of Kutupalong refugee camp, in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, Friday 20 October 2017. © UNICEF/UN0140916/LeMoyne (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)

Over the past three months, 622,000 people have fled brutal violence and discrimination in Myanmar's northern Rakhine, more than half of them children. In search of safety and often separated from their families along the way, hundreds of thousands of children have arrived in Bangladesh scared, hungry, sick and alone.

"No child should experience the fear, the loss, the upheaval and the suffering that the Rohingya children have experienced," said David Morley, UNICEF Canada President and CEO. "Canadians are known the world over for their generosity and compassion, and now we have one day left to prove the world right."

Since the influx of refugees began, humanitarian agencies like UNICEF have been working to keep up. Together, with our partners, we have provided safe water to more than 180,000 people. We procured 900,000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine to prevent a cholera outbreak. We have given psychosocial support to more than 78,000 children. And, we have provided several tonnes of supplies – life-saving water-purifying tablets, family hygiene kits, sanitary materials and plastic tarpaulins – for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children.

Still, the rising scale of the crisis is outpacing the response. To date UNICEF has received just a third of its $76.1 million appeal.

"Every day that passes means more children deprived of the basic essentials they need to survive, and more children at risk of exploitation," said Morley. "We're doing our best to provide children and their families with shelter, access to food, safe water, vaccinations and education, but we need more resources – we need more help from Canadians."

The Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund builds on the Government's previous commitment of more than $25 million to UNICEF and partners in Myanmar and Bangladesh to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and their families.

Until November 28, Canadians can double the impact of their support, and help humanitarian organizations reach twice as many children in need. For any donation made by individual Canadians to humanitarian organizations working to support Rohingya refugees – organizations like UNICEF – the Government of Canada will make a donation of equivalent value to the relief fund.

To make a donation, visit http://www.unicef.ca/actionrohingya

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

To arrange interviews or for more information please contact: Stefanie Carmichael, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8866; [email protected]