.JPG-ch1744373.JPG/ct7dail45t84808t722ufkh57a2c4rcx.JPG?g=0.5x0.33&w=1440&h=600&format=webp&itok=vALZ6ato "CH1744373_Rakib,_6,_with_his_mother_Ramiza_after_he_went_missing_in_the_camps_in_Cox's_Bazar (1).JPG")
Ramiza's heart sank as she realized her 6-year-old son, Rakib, was missing. She frantically searched for him but to no avail. With tears in her eyes, she turned to the SCI Child Protection Office for help.
Ayşe Nur Gençalp / Save the Children Türkiye
After hours of waiting, she received the news that her son had been found. The relief she felt was immense, but it was nothing compared to the overwhelming joy she felt when she was finally reunited with her son after a day as Rakib had to stay with the foster family that night due to the restricted mobility in the camps. The Child Protection team of Save the Children works in the Rohingya camps to reunify lost children back to their families. We have foster family care facilities where we keep the children in a safe environment until they return to their own families.
The day I lost my son was one of the worst experiences of my life. My 6 year old boy didn't even realize he was lost. He didn’t know our address, how he will return home! After knowing this Apa (SCI CP staff) assured me to search for him. After some time, she informed me that my son has been found. Although I didn't know if they really found my son! I was immediately relieved to hear that. The next day I got my son back with the support of Apa's (meaning ‘sister’ in Bengali) team. I don't let my son go anywhere alone now” said Ramiza* 6 years old Rakib* went missing while playing at his grandmother's house in the camp. After searching all day, his family contacted SCI's Child Protection Office that afternoon. By the evening, SCI staff had contacted their network of child protection camp focal points and located the child. He had walked from one camp to another and was found wandering alone. However, due to the restrictions on movement in the camp during the night, it was not possible to hand over Rakib* to his family that night. In the camp where he was found, he was placed with a foster family. The following morning, he was returned to his family. Save the Children (SCI) Child Protection team works to reunify lost children back to their families. There are networks in the field to find and protect the children; SCI has created foster family’s provision and work closely with them to keep the children safe until they return to their original family. Save the Children's Child Protection staff member Taslima Kusar said, “we frequently perform this type of reunification. When a parent's child goes missing in the camp, they come to us for help. We also make every effort to locate their child. When we successfully locate and return the missing child to the family, the feeling is indescribable; it is impossible to describe. Some cry with joy, while others laugh; seeing their joy sometimes causes me to cry.” (* name has been changed to conceal identity)
Taslima Kusar, a member of the child protection team said, “When we successfully locate and return the missing child to the family, the feeling is indescribable! Some cry in joy, while others laugh; and our happiness joins them too.”
