Zakat Foundation of America in

Myanmar

Response to Humanitarian Crisis

Myanmar, with nearly 55 million people and over 130 ethnic and religious groups, has faced political unrest and severe human rights violations. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Rakhine state, have been persecuted, denied citizenship, and rendered stateless since 1982. In 2017, a military crackdown forced hundreds of thousands to flee to Bangladesh, creating one of the world's largest refugee crises. Bangladesh, already struggling, became overwhelmed with overcrowded refugee camps, where women, children, and families endure harsh conditions. Despite global condemnation, the crisis remains unresolved, with Myanmar denying the Rohingya's basic rights and recognition.

Nourishing iftar essentials ease fasting days

Zakat Foundations Impact for Rohingya Refugees

Immediate Relief in Bangladesh	Alleviating Hardships in India	Supporting Integration into the USA
Distributing essential food packages. Providing tents, mosquito nets, and blankets. Establishing medical camps for consultations and treatments.	Winter kits provided comfort and protection, especially to children and elderly, against the harsh cold. Distributed essential food items to stave off malnutrition and hunger, enhancing the physical health and strength of those enduring the winter season.	Providing support to the Rohingya Cultural Center (RCC) in Chicago, Illinois by offering case management, education, job coaching, health support, and community building.

Our Impact in Myanmar

124,856 + Lives Impacted
1,588,950 Meals Distributed Through Food Security Programs
16,655 Udhiyah Meat Packages Distributed

Stories of Change

Providing a Safe Haven for Displaced and Vulnerable Communities

Ahmad

Before Ahmad moved to Chicago, life was not good. He had to flee Myanmar and spent time being detained in Malaysia. He feels lucky to have been able to escape detention when a friend helped him escape. Otherwise, he had a high chance of being detained indefinitely. He was thankful to be out reunited with his wife and two children. Ahmad has acclimated well to living in Chicago and enjoys his new home. He and his family feel safe and thankful for new opportunities. He works at the airport, his wife attends ESL classes, his daughter is in school, and his son attends childcare at Rohingya Cultural Center (RCC).

Salima

Salima arrived in Chicago in October 2022, after the UNHCR offered her resettlement. . After her husband’s passing, she fled Burma, along with her two children, due to escalating aggression and conflict. Salima comes to the Rohingya Cultural Center (RCC) daily, participating in the ESL courses where she confidently participates in speaking and doing her ESL worksheets. Salima enjoys her time spent in the ESL courses and expresses how much she appreciates her teachers.

Asma Begum

Asma Begum, a 48-year-old Rohingya refugee in Hyderabad, India, expressed her gratitude to our field teams after receiving fresh Udhiyah-Qurbani meat on Eid al Adha. Asma, her husband, and six children have faced many hardships since fleeing Myanmar due to violent riots. Struggling with a limited income from her husband's job as a night watchman, they could not afford meat for Eid. Your support brought immense joy, allowing the family to cook mutton biryani and celebrate the occasion. Asma thanked everyone while praying for their well-being and wishing them a blessed Eid.

News From Myanmar

Rohingya Culture Center: A Zakat Foundation of America Project

Rohingya Culture Center: A Zakat Foundation of America Project. Zakat Foundation of America has helped establish the Rohingya Culture Center in Chicago, IL.

Photos & Videos