Help Oxfam give hope to Rohingya refugees

DEAR Editor, As we begin another new year, we hope for health and prosperity and that those dear to us will enjoy a happy and safe 2018.

Sadly, for millions of people around the globe, their basic survival rather than happiness is the immediate priority for the next 12 months.

One group of people for whom 2018 starts with great uncertainty and insecurity are close to one million Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar to seek refuge across the border in Bangladesh. Many have arrived with just the clothes on their backs. They are in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter. Those who survive the treacherous journey are living in makeshift tents in hugely overcrowded settlements.

Thanks to help from the people of Kerry, we are there. We are providing life-saving water and sanitation to help prevent the spread of deadly disease and we have distributed emergency food

We can’t do this without your support. In 2017 the people of Kerry were extraordinarily generous to Oxfam Ireland’s work. In our shop in Tralee, we have generated over €67,000 from sales on donated items alone.

We are appealing to that generosity once again and asking that your readers please donate to our Rohingya Emergency Appeal, either in-store or at oxfam.ie/bangladesh. Sincerely,

Jim Clarken, OxfamIrelandChiefExecutive