Life-Changing Eye Care Provided to Over 4000 Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh by Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE)

 Living in a state of displacement is one of the most challenging existences a human can endure. Having to leave behind all your worldly comforts in a bid for survival - leaving your home, income, school, and community - you are thrust into a constant state of instability and hardship.  

As you flee from violence or destruction, you aim to build a new life in a place of refuge and safety. Unfortunately, this next step is not usually guaranteed for those who are displaced, as many are forced to seek shelter in city slums or refugee camps.  

The reality of displacement is faced by a staggering 117.3 million people worldwide, with 30% living in refugee camps. Bangladesh hosts over 1 million Rohingya refugees in the largest refugee camps in the world, located in Cox’s Bazar.

While these camps have served this vulnerable community, providing a place of shelter and safety, they offer temporary solutions to a permanent problem. As a result, most refugees find themselves in very densely populated temporary shelters of bamboo, tarpaulin, or similar materials, with 73% of households in some camps living in degraded shelters or ones that are at the brink of collapsing. 

The lack of durable, long-term solutions means that most Rohingya refugees are likely to remain in camps for the foreseeable future, with limited clean water and sanitation. Living for prolonged periods in these circumstances naturally has a detrimental impact on the physical, psychological, intellectual, and social aspects of a person’s development.  

This has already manifested itself on the camp’s refugee population, as there has been a marked surge in severe acute malnutrition, the worst seen since 2017 in the area, particularly in young children.  

For these vulnerable displaced individuals, it is in these circumstances, with limited provisions and resources, that life is supposed to be built anew. Accepting the potentially endless nature of their stay in the camps, Rohingya refugees turn to healing their ailments and establishing a new sense of normal for themselves and their families. 

 One of the many health concerns that plagues the community is the very high burden of untreated eye disease among Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, specifically for eye tests and spectacles among children and adults, along with cataract surgery, refractive error correction, and other eye care. 

To assist in rebuilding the lives of Rohingya refugees, Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE) addressed the unmet need for eye care within Camp 1W Rohingya Refugee Camp, Kutupalong, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. For 8 months, LIFE gave free eye checkups to the entire Rohingya community, identifying and examining different eye diseases. In total, 4,000 Patients were treated, with a further 30 Cataract patients cured.  

This valuable gift of improved sight was received with immense gratitude from beneficiaries. Even patients who suffered from different Ophthalmic diseases were tested and prescribed medicine that was delivered to them personally.  

For one cataract patient, the 77-year-old Semon Bahar, diminished vision had been plaguing her for years. The compassionate care she received from the skilled medical staff didn’t just improve her vision; it rejuvenated her independence. Semon Bahar is now able to enjoy daily activities with ease, connect with loved ones, and embrace the beauty around her with newfound brightness.  

Her story is a testament to the transformative impact that your donations and LIFE’s initiatives have provided to thousands just like her.