Bangladesh-Myanmar Crisis Appeal

Help families stay safe

Since August 2017 more than 919,000 people, mostly women and children fled violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar to seek safety in the refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Today, 1.3 million people are in need of aid in order to survive, and though the influx has slowed dramatically, people continue to arrive at the camps every day.

Red Cross teams have been helping people on both sides of the border since the crisis started.

We’ve opened an emergency hospital to care for those sick or injured. We are helping people access emergency shelter, toilets, food and safe drinking water. We are also providing personal and social support, and establishing safe spaces for women and children.

As the monsoon season approached we worked tirelessly helping people prepare by reinforcing their shelters and training them on what to do in the event of flooding, landslides or cyclones. We are now responding to those who have been affected by the severe weather events.

We continue to reconnect families who became separated as they fled, as well as help people learn the fate of their loved ones.

Our Myanmar Crisis Appeal is helping people get the essentials they need to survive and cope.

Together, we can ensure no crisis is too big to make a difference.

Your questions answered

Funds raised will assist Red Cross to provide humanitarian support to people and communities affected by violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, including those who have sought safety in neighbouring countries. That support may include:

emergency relief and recovery assistance such as food, water, sanitation, shelter and health initiatives
sending specialist aid workers to assist in assessment, relief, recovery and disaster and crisis management operations, as well as restoring family links
working in affected areas to strengthen local resilience and deliver relief and recovery services

Should the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the emergency needs of people in affected areas or if there are changes in circumstances beyond Red Cross' control, Red Cross will direct excess funds to responding to international crises and resilience.

Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Australian Red Cross ensures that at least 90% of funds raised for an international appeal are spent directly on our emergency response programs. Our appeal and administration costs vary depending upon the type and scale of activity, but do not exceed 10% of funds raised.

Up to 10% is deducted and used for indirect administration and appeal fundraising costs to support our important work: e.g. office facilities, staff, and IT services. Fundraising costs include donor call centres, receipting and website.

In the unlikely event that funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the emergency needs of people in affected areas, or if there are changes in circumstances beyond Red Cross' control that limit our ability to use funds in the affected areas, Australian Red Cross will direct excess funds to help people in other emergency situations abroad. Any interest earned on donations will be invested back into the appeal.

Thanks for your generosity but we are unable to send donated goods to the area. The cost of shipping and storing these products would far exceed the cost of buying items in bulk closer to the source. Here's more information.

Our Red Cross shops around the country will gratefully accept good-quality clothing and household items. These will be on-sold to raise funds to help people in Australia and further afield. Find a Red Cross Shop near you.

Thank you for your kind offer to volunteer. Australian Red Cross does not send volunteers overseas during a disaster or emergency response. In these instances, we would only send trained specialists who have experience working in international emergencies and with Red Cross.

Charity donations of $2 or more to Australian Red Cross may be tax-deductible in Australia. Site protected by Google Invisible reCAPTCHA. © Australian Red Cross 2022. ABN 50 169 561 394

Bangladesh-Myanmar Crisis Appeal

Please give generously.

Your questions answered