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'Humans of New York' photographer Brandon Stanton raises over $1Mil for Rohingya Refugees
The GoFundMe donations will be used to build houses for thousands of refugees crossing into Bangladesh from Myanmar.
Almost 700,000 women, children and men have fled Myanmar due to Buddhist extremists who have pushed them out of their homes, using any means necessary. The violence and atrocities forced on several of the Rohingya refugees has forced them to flee to refugee camps in nearby Bangladesh in recent months. "Most of these refugees have settled in two sprawling camps just over the border: Kutupalong and Balukhali. Stanton wrote on his GoFundMe page, "While aid agencies such as the (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) are doing their best to cope with the humanitarian crisis, most refugees are provided with only the basics they need to survive."
Brandon Stanton
Stanton created the fundraiser to help build "durable" houses for those living in plastic shelters, especially as Monsoon season approaches. Each house will cost $630 and will be able to hold a family of six. “The houses we are helping to build are special," Stanton explained. "They are made of bamboo. They have two bedrooms, which will allow a small degree of privacy and dignity for large families. They have a kitchen area. These things sound simple, but under the current conditions, they represent a huge leap in comfort and security.”
The GoFundMe campaign has raised well over $1,127,900, surpassing Stanton's initial $1 million goal. With the help of the Love Army, the money will build 1,500 homes and even the labour costs will be given back to the community, as the houses will be built by the refugees themselves.
