Border News Agency
Cox’s Bazar, November 12
Plan International CEO Reena Ghelani began her visit to Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar, where she witnessed the realities of a humanitarian response that has continued for nearly a decade.
During her visit, Ghelani heard directly from Rohingya girls and boys about their experiences of growing up in prolonged displacement. They shared the challenges they face in accessing education and protection, as well as their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Discussions also highlighted the additional challenges facing displaced communities due to natural disasters and climate change, including the urgent need to strengthen community resilience and preparedness.
Ghelani also met young Bangladeshi girl advocates from Plan International’s DURBAAR initiative. The discussions focused on how girls can participate in climate-related decision-making, influence policies, and develop solutions to environmental challenges affecting their communities.
The visit highlighted how conflict, forced displacement, humanitarian emergencies, and climate change continue to disrupt children’s lives and threaten their futures. For girls, these overlapping challenges can deepen existing inequalities, increase protection risks, restrict access to education, and limit opportunities, potentially increasing their vulnerability to child marriage.
Addressing these challenges requires collective action to protect children’s rights, strengthen community resilience, expand educational opportunities, and ensure that girls have meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
The visit also underscored the importance of listening to children and young people, particularly those living in humanitarian settings, and recognising their role in building safer, more resilient communities.
