On World Water Day refugee girls around the world collect water

From Bangladesh to South Sudan and everywhere in between, refugee girls play a vital role in displaced populations’ ability to not only survive, but thrive by collecting water for their families and communities.

Every day refugee girls around the world set out on long journeys to collect clean water; this water is used for tasks like cooking, drinking, washing and growing crops. The journeys they take can be dangerous as many young women are at increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence as they travel alone to gather water each day. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is working to address this risk by making clean water resources more accessible for refugees and displaced populations.

This World Water Day, we are celebrating refugee girls across the globe who work hard every day to collect water in order to keep their families healthy. Take a look at some of these strong young women below!

Sudanese refugee girls in Doro refugee camp, South Sudan.

Rohingya refugee girls in Unchiprang refugee camp, Bangladesh.

Afghan refugee girls in Pakistan.

Displaced Dalit girls in Nepal.

Syrian refugee girls in Vathy, Greece.