Working to improve the lives of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Since 25 August 2017 extreme violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar has forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people from their homes and across the border into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
This created the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world with 919,000 Rohingya refugees stuck in camps on the border.
Conditions in the camps are incredibly difficult. With limited medical facilities, people are sick and at risk of serious disease. A year later, refugees now face additional threats. The camps are ill-equipped to handle the monsoon rains and there are limited options for evacuation.
Over the past year Christian Aid has raised nearly £9 million. With this we’ve worked with local partners to improve food security, health, access to safe water and sanitation, protection, shelters and communication with communities.
Here we take a look at some of the highlights from Christian Aid’s work over the past year…
67,000
... children’s winter clothing kits
Since September 2017 we have supported the distribution of 67,000 children's winter clothing kits, blankets for 9,500 families and floor mats for 11,500 families.
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15,500
... households received shelter upgrade kits
The pre-monsoon rains began in April 2018. This brought flooding, landslides, waterlogging and outbreaks of disease to the camps. Shelter upgrade kits and training have enabled households to strengthen their homes to withstand high winds and heavy rains.
The pre-monsoon rains began in April 2018. This brought flooding, landslides, waterlogging and outbreaks of disease to the camps. Shelter upgrade kits and training have enabled households to strengthen their homes to withstand high winds and heavy rains. We’ve relocated 319 households whose shelters were identified as at risk from flooding or landslides.
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10,539
... families received food packages
These packages contain rice, lentils, oil, salt and sugar. This allows refugees to cook for their families in their shelters or in community kitchens.
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138,084
... health care consultations
Conditions in the camp are difficult. With limited medical facilities, people are sick and at risk of disease. Christian Aid has supported 3 health camps, 7 ‘pop-up’ clinics and 1 primary care clinic in Jamtoli, Balukhali & Thangkhali.
Conditions in the camp are difficult. With limited medical facilities, people are sick and at risk of disease. Christian Aid has supported 3 health camps, 7 ‘pop-up’ clinics and 1 primary care clinic in Jamtoli, Balukhali & Thangkhali. 138,084 health care consultations have taken place, as well as 75,100 referrals for further treatment.
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8
... women and child centres, and 6 community kitchens
These serve as safe places for Rohingya women to be together outside of their homes. They allow women to meet, chat, share stories and challenges as well as cook for their families.
These serve as safe places for Rohingya women to be together outside of their homes. They allow women to meet, chat, share stories and challenges as well as cook for their families. Gas and basic supplies are provided and it reduces the need for women to collect firewood from the forest which can be hard work and dangerous. Our partners also provide psycho-social counselling and sessions on gender-based violence and health and hygiene.
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22,384
... families received water and sanitation kits
These kits have improved health and hygiene, helping to prevent the spread of disease. To support this, 11,828 health & hygiene sessions have been delivered to women and adolescent girls.
These kits have improved health and hygiene, helping to prevent the spread of disease. To support this, 11,828 health & hygiene sessions have been delivered to women and adolescent girls. 16 gravity water system service points have been installed, helping to solve the problem of water access at high elevations in the camps.
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100s
... of volunteers trained
Hundreds of Rohingya community volunteers have been trained in emergency preparedness and response, particularly life-saving skills and knowledge ahead of the monsoon and cyclone season.
Hundreds of Rohingya community volunteers have been trained in emergency preparedness and response, particularly life-saving skills and knowledge ahead of the monsoon and cyclone season. This includes 20 cyclone preparedness programme volunteers, 64 safety unit volunteers, 48 psycho-social support volunteers and 198 first aid, search and rescue, early warning and firefighting volunteers.
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108
... camp committees, 4 community radio 'Listener Groups' and 1 info hub
The humanitarian community has faced many challenges in communicating effectively with the Rohingya people due to high illiteracy rates.
The humanitarian community has faced many challenges in communicating effectively with the Rohingya people due to high illiteracy rates, no standard written script for the Rohingya language, cultural customs and the lack of existing research or knowledge about the community due to their isolation in Myanmar. These committees have strengthened the communication between the Rohingya people and humanitarian organisations, ensuring their voices are heard and needs met.
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Find out more about our Rohingya Crisis Appeal, our work in Bangladesh, and how to donate:
All figures are taken from the latest situation report, May 2018, and response update, July 2018.