Stand with a Rohingya Refugee Student Activist and Genocide Survivor in Urgent Need of Safe Accommodation and Support to Pay His Mother’s Medical Bills

Product Description

Australia

Noor Sadeque is a 25 year old Rohingya refugee youth activist and genocide survivor who has been living in Cox’s Bazaar, the largest refugee camp in the world, since 2017 when, as a teenager, he and his family were forced to flee from Myanmar to Bangladesh in the midst of brutal genodice and ethnic cleansing by Myanmar’s military government.

His response to the brutal conditions of life in the camp has been to seek out education, distribute material support to alleviate others’ suffering, and develop the skills and deep understanding of the political, social, historical and economic circumstances of Cox’s Bazaar needed to empower his community to stand up and fight back against their oppression.

He is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Rohingya Student Network (link shows his previous role) and positioned to make significant further contributions to the Rohingya struggle in his lifetime. He will be contributing an article about the history and conditions of Cox’s Bazaar to the next issue of Green Left, an established Australian activist newspaper.

Recently he has been hit with significant financial expenses as his mother has required expensive Hepatitis C virus (HCV) medication, as well as the costs of her ongoing hospital care. On top of this, armed gang members have been coming to his shelter at night and threatening his life due to his status as a youth leader and activist, forcing him to seek safety in a rented apartment/safe house close to the camp. Maintaining his mother’s care, as well as monthly rent, is far beyond his means to sustain on his own.

During these desperate circumstances, he recently reached out to me via a mutual acquaintance he’d been assisting on-the-ground to gather journalistic research about Cox’s Bazaar and asked for solidarity support to fundraise – both to protect his own life and to save his mother’s.

If Noor reaches his target of AUD$7000, he will be able, for 6-months, to cover rent of his safe house (AUD$1860) and his mother’s Hepatitis C treatment and hospital care (approx AUD$5000). This will make life possible for him and his family while he continues his essential work to tell the world his peoples’ story and fight for their emancipation. Any leftover funds will go toward this purpose.

Your kindness and support mean everything to Noor and his family during this incredibly difficult time.

Please, if you are able, take the time to read Noor’s personal account and call for solidarity below.

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Note 1 – Caption for header image:

Noor distributing women and children clothes to the fire victims’ families in 2021 in the refugee camp at Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh.

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Our Struggles as Refugees

My family and I have faced unimaginable hardships since being forcibly displaced from Myanmar and seeking refuge in Bangladesh. The Myanmar military government branded us as stateless and homeless simply because we demanded our denied equal rights—citizenship, peace, and dignity. The brutal military, along with extremist groups and local law enforcement, carried out a systematic, slow-burning genocide against the Rohingya people, making us one of the most persecuted minorities on the planet.

Behind the scenes, countless atrocities unfolded—massacres, gang rapes, the burning of homes with people inside, and the horrific execution of infants by throwing them into fires. Elderly individuals were burned alive, many were shot to death, and others were imprisoned without investigation.

When I fled Myanmar to Bangladesh, I witnessed horrors I can never forget. I saw countless dead bodies, infants separated from their parents crying helplessly, and elderly people left behind because no one could carry them on the long journey. Along the way, I saw women giving birth by the roadside, and many people died due to extreme fever, starvation, and exhaustion. I myself walked for two weeks, sometimes running under heavy rain and sometimes climbing mountains, without food or medicine.

Despite these immense struggles, we finally reached Bangladesh, and we are deeply grateful to the government and people of Bangladesh for providing us refuge. The compassion and humanity shown by the Bangladesh Army and its people have given us hope. May Bangladesh always remain a land of peace and kindness.

My Background and Current Situation

My name is Noor Sadaque, and I am 25 years old. Originally from Maungdaw Township in Rakhine State, Myanmar, I have been living in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh for nearly eight years. I come from a family of nine, including my parents and six siblings.

As a Rohingya refugee youth activist, I have been actively engaged in social work within the refugee camps, striving to support my community and raise awareness about our struggles. However, my activism has made me a target for violent groups operating in the camp.

My Mother’s Critical Health Condition

My mother has been suffering from multiple severe health issues, including asthma, high blood pressure, severe abdominal pain, and Hepatitis C (jaundice). We have taken her to every available hospital and clinic within the refugee camp, but the treatments have not been effective. The cost of her medical care is overwhelming, and we constantly struggle to afford even a single day’s worth of medication.

Recently, she suddenly lost consciousness after continuous coughing. Her condition has deteriorated further due to complications related to Hepatitis C and kidney stones, which now require urgent surgery. Unfortunately, the treatment and medications are extremely expensive, and we are unable to afford them. My mother is still in the hospital, fighting for her life. I am humbly reaching out for support to help cover her medical expenses and give her a chance at recovery.

My Safety Concerns and Forced Relocation

Due to my activism and social engagement, I have become a target of threats and violence. A local gang has repeatedly threatened my life, demanding that I join their group. They have even come to my shelter with guns, trying to intimidate me. When I refused to comply, they escalated their threats, warning that they would kill me if I did not submit to their demands.

Fearing for my safety, I was forced to move out of the refugee camp and into a rented apartment. However, securing a safe place to live adds another financial burden, making it even more difficult to afford my mother’s medical expenses.

A Plea for Support

Despite these threats and challenges, I remain committed to helping my community and raising awareness about our struggles. However, I cannot do this alone. I am reaching out with a heartfelt plea for support—both for my mother’s life-saving medical treatment and for my continued safety. Any assistance, whether financial or in spreading awareness, would mean the world to us.

If just one person donates $20, we will be one step closer to reaching our total goal of $7000. Every small contribution adds up and makes a significant impact

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and solidarity in this time of great need.

Your support is a beacon of hope in our darkest moments.

Eli Thurtel