Dear Supporter,

I’m writing to let you know in advance about an important initiative to support refugees in our region.

The national broadcaster, ABC, will launch an emergency appeal across all channels next week to raise funds for over one million people displaced by the recent violence in Myanmar. This is now the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis.

Australia for UNHCR is proud to partner with ABC and other leading Australian NGOs on this national initiative. We also welcome the Australian Government’s offer to match donations to Australia for UNHCR during this appeal. This means any donation you make will have double the impact.

More than 610,000 Rohingya have fled into Bangladesh in recent weeks. They recount horrific stories of villages being burnt, great deprivation and violence. Many women and children are arriving acutely malnourished and families are deeply traumatised.  

UNHCR is leading the protection response on the ground, and helping provide nutritional support, shelter, medicine, water and sanitation, trauma counselling and family tracing for unaccompanied children.

Please look out for ABC’s in-depth reporting throughout next week, as our UNHCR colleagues in Bangladesh help ABC cover the crisis.  You can also visit our website to stay informed of UNHCR’s emergency response and most importantly to donate.

In the meantime thank you so much for your support. I very much appreciate it. 

Kind regards, Naomi Steer National Director