Priyanka Chopra makes emotional appeal for funds to support Rohingya children

Indian actress and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Priyanka Chopra urged the international community to come forward in helping refugee children across the world while visiting Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday.

Chopra shared her experience live on Facebook from the Katupalong refugee camp discussing the Rohingya refugee crisis and UNICEF’s efforts to provide life-saving support to children who have been forced to flee their homes in Myanmar.

She said the global community must come forward to address the issue as Rohingya children are living in a condition where none of their basic rights of food, safe water, shelter proper sanitation and education can be fulfilled.

“Every child deserves to have a right to future; a right to dream no matter what caste, religion or country he is from. It does not matter what his forefathers have done but all we need is the society to care and show compassion. The world needs to care or else these children can be a lost generation.”

Chopra drew attention to shacks in the ‘biggest refugee camp in world at the moment’ that shelter about 700,000 people with 60 percent of them being children, lacking basic structures to keep them safe during torrential rain and thunder storm, especially in the upcoming monsoon.

Lack of proper sanitation also spreads diseases, she said.

“No donation is small,” she said adding anyone can donate with money, time or just his compassion.

Chopra focused on UNICEF’s child friendly space, a “sanctuary” for the children.  “Children stay in the space for two hours a day that enables them to have a respite and be children; to forget the carnage they have experienced,” said Chopra drawing attention on a child drawing a picture of a helicopter spraying bullets. 

Chopra said all refugee children want to be educated and thanked Bangladesh for ‘incredibly’ opening its doors to so many refugees.

“Now they can at least dream to have education; a five-year-old boy I met made a profound comment saying he wants to be a journalist and tell the world that it’s bad for everyone when countries fight,” she said.

“I get emotional but feel positive to see how happy children are with little they have,” said Chopra who has been working with UNICEF for 12 years.