Emergency Relief for Rohingya Refugees
Since August 25, more than 600 000 Rohingya refugees crossed the border from Rakhine state in Myanmar to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, following renewed conflict in the area. Many of the new arrivals are staying in spontaneous settlements or among local Bangladeshi host communities. The basic services are now strained and aid agencies are struggling to cope with the rising needs. The spontaneous settlements in Cox’s Bazar require proper planning to ensure basic shelter, safety and hygiene standards. With limited resources, the refugees urgently need food security, emergency shelter, water and sanitation facilities, medical assistance and psychosocial support.
Data from International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Population Monitoring (NPM) as of 20 November reported that:
622,000 new arrivals since 25 August
14% of families are headed by single mothers
55% of all refugees are under 18
52% of all arrivals are women and girls
22,484 registered orphan children
46,000 arrivals in host communities
ADRA Bangladesh, with support from their donors, is assisting refugees by providing food aid. Between November 12 to 19 ADRA provided assistance to 19,601 Households.
ADRA is working with the global ADRA network partners to respond to the Rohingya refugee crisis. ADRA Asia office, based in Bangkok, mobilized an Emergency Response Team, a global response mechanism that is highly trained and ready to deploy at short notice to support ADRA Bangladesh to implement the Emergency Relief projects for Rohingya refugees.
Since September the team is comprised of local and international staff operating under ADRA Bangladesh. ADRA has been providing food assistance to refugees since October, giving 4kg of lentils, 1 kg of sugar, 1/2 kg of salt and 2 liters of cooking oil per family. Funds for these distributions have been provided from the ADRA network specially ADRA Denmark, Läkarmissionen, LDS Charities and Rise Against Hunger.
Distributions in partnership with World Food Programme have taken place in the following camps: Jamtoli, Jadimura, Leda Makeshift, Madhurchara and Unchiprang. ADRA is coordinating with UNHCR for shelter assistance and identification. Since the month of November ADRA, through UNHCR funding, has been providing shelter items which will benefit 10,000 families around Nayapara. An additional 2,500 families are also able to receive shelter items thanks to funds from the ADRA Network. ADRA will also start distributions shortly that will provide families with items such as hygiene kits and blankets.
ADRA is regularly meeting with the Disaster and Relief second officer of the Cox’s Bazar District to ensure their response is aligned with the Governments as well as coordinated with NGOs.
The needs of the Rohingya people are great, even more so with winter starting. Please donate to help the people of Rohingya now. With your help, we will be able to create a better future for those most in need. Together, we are changing the world, one life at a time.
