by Ro Maung Shwe
Cox’s Bazar | November 15, 2025
More than 300 Rohingya youth gathered in Camp 07 on November 15 for a climate action programme organised by the Rohingya Green Nature Society, highlighting growing youth leadership on environmental protection inside the refugee camps amid increasing climate risks.
The event marked the successful conclusion of RGNS’s flagship initiative, Inspiring Rohingya Youth for Climate Action and a Sustainable Future, a youth led programme focused on environmental awareness, resilience, and community responsibility. Founded in 2022, RGNS is a non profit organisation aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and SDG 13 on Climate Action. The group works to promote a greener, safer, and pollution free environment within the Rohingya camps.
A Platform for Rohingya Youth Voices
The programme created a rare space for Rohingya youth to openly share concerns and ideas about environmental challenges affecting their daily lives. Young men and women discussed flooding, landslides, soil erosion, water scarcity, waste mismanagement, deforestation, and fire risks, all of which have intensified in the densely populated camps.
One young participant told the gathering that although they live as refugees, they are not powerless and can take responsibility for protecting their environment and community.
Climate Risks Inside the Camps
Speakers warned that climate change is already worsening living conditions across the camps. Seasonal floods and landslides threaten shelters, while deforestation and poor waste management increase health and safety risks. Participants stressed that climate adaptation and environmental stewardship are not abstract ideas, but essential tools for survival and dignity.
The programme brought together representatives from NGOs, local community based organisations, Rohingya CBOs, educators, climate volunteers, and youth activists, along with more than twenty speakers from humanitarian, environmental, and rights based backgrounds.
Youth Leadership and Community Responsibility
Ajas Khan, founder of RGNS, said the organisation aims to empower Rohingya youth to become environmental leaders within their communities. He said the group envisions a future where young people actively shape a greener and more resilient society, transforming hardship into opportunity through collective action.
Human rights activist and humanitarian worker MD Younus Arman highlighted the central role of youth in climate action, saying that educating and inspiring young people equips them to respond to environmental challenges with creativity and courage.
Jimran Mohammed Saiak, founder of MAGIC Initiatives, said climate change is already affecting health, environment, and livelihoods in the camps. He said understanding these impacts is necessary to act before conditions worsen further.
Local and Humanitarian Perspectives
Helal Uddin, an elected Union Parishad member from Rajapalong Union, said climate impacts are felt most strongly at the local level and require collective action to protect vulnerable communities in Cox’s Bazar.
Shah Rukh Karim, founder of Youth Action for Justice and Development, said climate sustainability and human rights are deeply connected, particularly for displaced populations like the Rohingya, where environmental harm directly affects dignity and security.
Abul Kasim, executive director of Help Cox’s Bazar, stressed that sanitation and hygiene are fundamental to health for both refugee and host communities, saying access to clean water and proper facilities is essential for resilience.
Md Fakruhddin Ashrafi, CEO of the Humanitarian Assistance Programme, said effective humanitarian work depends on understanding complex community needs and combining care with long term planning.
Saymon Akter Imam, CEO of Save the Women and Children, highlighted the importance of gender equality, saying women’s empowerment strengthens community resilience and social justice.
Human rights advocate Mizanur Rahman said leadership development inside refugee communities is critical to addressing climate vulnerability and broader social challenges.
Ro Habib Arakani, founder of Rohingya Youth Rights, warned that climate stress and displacement increase the risk of human trafficking, calling for stronger awareness and prevention efforts to protect vulnerable individuals.
A Call for Collaboration and Hope
The programme concluded with a collective call for stronger cooperation among NGOs, community groups, and youth led initiatives to protect the environment and build long term resilience in the camps.
Participants reaffirmed the programme’s message that environmental protection is inseparable from survival, dignity, and hope, carrying forward the shared slogan: Save Earth Today to Survive Tomorrow.
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