Duchess Sophie Visits Rohingya Camps in Cox’s Bazar, Hears Stories of Women and Children

During the visit, Sophie met Rohingya women and children, listened to their experiences and learned about the challenges they face in education, healthcare, safety and livelihood opportunities. She visited humanitarian projects supported by international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF.

One of the key moments of the visit was her interaction with Rohingya children at an education centre. Students shared their hopes for the future and spoke about the difficulties they face in continuing their education while living in refugee camps. A sixth-grade student, Mohammad Obayed, expressed his dream of becoming an engineer. He also highlighted the limited opportunities available for Rohingya students to pursue higher education and appealed for greater educational access.

Another student, Hamida, shared her ambition to become a doctor. She highlighted the shortage of female doctors and the need for better maternal healthcare services within the refugee community. Duchess Sophie listened to the students and learned about the barriers affecting their education, particularly the challenges faced by girls in accessing learning opportunities safely and regularly.

She also met Rohingya women and discussed their daily struggles, protection concerns, healthcare needs and living conditions in the camps. She visited facilities providing support and safe spaces for women and adolescent girls. During the visit, Sophie also toured a soap-making factory operated by the Cox’s Bazar-based non-governmental organization Programme for Helpless and Lagged Societies (PHALS).

The facility provides livelihood opportunities for members of both the Rohingya refugee and local host communities. Sophie observed the soap-making process and learned how the initiative helps women develop skills and earn an income to support their families. The visit also included discussions about humanitarian assistance, disability inclusion, women's protection, leadership development and opportunities to improve the living conditions of displaced families.

Rohingya refugees have been living in Bangladesh since fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar's Rakhine State, particularly during the mass displacement in August 2017. More than one million Rohingya refugees are currently hosted in camps across Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.

After years of displacement, access to education, healthcare, protection and sustainable livelihood opportunities remains a major challenge for the community. Children face uncertainty about their educational future, while women and girls continue to require protection and specialized support.

The United Kingdom has been among the major international donors supporting Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has highlighted the UK's humanitarian commitment, with British assistance exceeding £460 million.

Sophie’s visit is part of her three-day official trip to Bangladesh from November 9 to 11. The visit focuses particularly on women's and girls' rights, protection, empowerment and humanitarian issues. Her engagement with Rohingya refugees also brings renewed international attention to the humanitarian situation in Cox’s Bazar and the continuing need for support for displaced families.