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Issue 4, July 2026

Welcome to Rohingya Voice, the authentic voice of Rohingya refugees in the camps in Bangladesh. This newsletter is produced by the Rohingya Education and Advocacy League (REAL), an association of refugees in the Jamtoli camp that works to better the lives of refugees and tell their story to the world. The newsletter carries a selection of REAL social media posts. Rohingya Voice is written and edited by Maung Myint Swe in Bangladesh and Emma Badach in the US. Scroll down to access REAL’s social media and photos.

Many dead as landslide buries a girls’ religious school

Up to 50 Hafez (Quran) students are feared dead after a landslide buried their madrasa on Wednesday in Camp 5. Parents have been desperately clawing at the rubble in the hope of finding survivors. The disaster was triggered by heavy flooding, although many are also blaming the weak retaining walls built by aid agencies. Click here to see the video.

Donate to our gardening appeal and help us grow food!

REAL has launched this appeal on GlobalGiving to raise funds for our gardening project, which grew 1.4 tons of vegetables in phase 1. We have trained another 40 refugee families and their vegetables are beginning to appear! This fundraiser will help us reach even more families. It will begin at 10.00 am EST (US time) on Wednesday July 15 and last 24 hours. Any amount will help and GlobalGiving will offer additional money to all donations over $100. Thank you!

From our editor

June 20 – World Refugee Day

“Every year on June 20, the world observes World Refugee Day. As a Rohingya refugee, I have never truly experienced peace. Yet I continue to dream of a day when my people can live safely in our homeland with equal rights and citizenship. I dream of a future where Rohingya children can go to school without fear and where no one is forced to flee because of their identity. On this World Refugee Day, I ask the world not to forget refugees. Listen to our voices. Stand with us. Support our rights. Help us build a future where no one has to live as a refugee.” View Maung Myint Swe’s posts on social media.

Children are being kidnapped and murdered

Eight Rohingya children are thought to have been kidnapped in June alone, and the kidnappers are demanding outlandish ransoms. As a result, most cases end in death. Many Rohingya families are too scared to leave their homes. The organizations responsible for child protection MUST do better.

Alham from Camp 9

Shahida from Camp 17

Five year old Alham from Camp 9 was kidnapped on June 4 and killed, even after his family paid about 380,000 taka ($3,056) in ransom. Sources say Alham’s body was returned to the family so badly disfigured from acid damage that it was unrecognizable. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is responsible for protection in Camp 9. Click here to see the video sent by Alham’s kidnappers to his parents before he was killed.

Seven year old Shahida from Camp 17 has been kidnapped and remains in captivity. Shahida’s captors have demanded 200,000 taka ($1,609) from her family and threatened to kill her if the ransom is not paid. Her family received the video below showing Shahida blindfolded and restrained. The NGO Save the Children is responsible for child protection in Camp 17. Click here to see a video of Shahida in captivity sent by her kidnappers to her parents.

Child drowns in tank

Child found dead near lake

A two-year-old Rohingya child reportedly died after falling into a water container in Thaing Khali Camp 19, Block C-9 on June 6, showing how unsafe the camps are for children.

Another Rohingya child was found dead near a lake in Camp 4, Block B, on June 5. All children face major risks around open water and preventive measures are urgently needed.

Even beer is a threat

Alcohol is entering the Rohingya camps through informal and illegal channels. Although there are no legal bars within the camps, empty bottles are increasingly being found in drains and public spaces. Beer is a threat to the youth and contributes to criminal activity.

UNHCR fails the Rohingyas

Making art from plastic bags

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spent $32 million on vehicles at a time when food aid for Rohingya refugees was under pressure from funding shortfalls, according to an internal UN audit from December 2025. The audit also noted that only 17% of the agency’s budget is spent on solutions and empowering refugees. Read the story on RRN and learn about UNHCR’s program here.

A disabled Rohingya girl transforms regular plastic bags into decorative flowers using a needle and colorful thread, turning waste into intricate artwork. Throughout the Rohingya refugee camps, limited access to resources has led many residents to repurpose discarded materials for everyday use and a way to express themselves creatively. Click here for the video.

Living through the monsoon

Monsoon season brings heavier rainfall each year, with climate change increasing the risk of severe flooding across the Rohingya refugee camps. Floodwaters damage already fragile shelters, contaminate living areas, spread disease, and can be deadly (top story). Each storm disrupts daily life, forcing families to set aside their daily struggles and focus on immediate survival.