ROHINGYAS CRISIS

Nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar

700,000 arrived since August 2017 in Kutupalong-Balukhali camp

Water & sanitation needs, shelter, protection

Host country : Bangladesh, Asia

Capital: Dhaka

Population : 165 million

SIF Mission : since 2017
Kutupalong-Balukhali Camp

Emergency assistance, construction of wells and latrines, child-friendly spaces

Partnerships : NGO Friendship (Bangladesh)

Humanitarian context

Since August 2017, large-scale massacres and abuses have led nearly 700,000 Rohingyas, a Muslim minority in Burma's Rakhine province, to seek refuge across the border in Bangladesh. The Cox's Bazar District Camp, the largest camp in the world, is home to nearly 700,000 refugees.

The concentration of population on a vulnerable terrain plagued by climatic hazards poses colossal humanitarian challenges. While food needs and access to water seem to be largely covered in August 2018, lack of hygiene, precarious shelter and promiscuity remain a concern. Floods also increase the risk of waterborne diseases.

Children account for more than half of the camp population according to UNICEF. They are forced to live in disastrous humanitarian conditions, without access to education.

Our actions since 2017

In response to the humanitarian crisis of 2017, the SIF responded in October with the distribution of food aid and the construction of wells and latrines to cover water and sanitation needs.

In a second phase, infrastructures were strengthened to prevent health risks (construction of a health center, construction / rehabilitation of wells and latrines). Two psychosocial centers for children were inaugurated in May 2018 in Kutupalong camp. The projects were carried out in partnership with the local NGO Friendship.

September-December 2018 : Water, hygiene and sanitation

Rehabilitation and maintenance of wells and latrines (2019)
Construction of 10 wells and 10 blocks of sanitary and washing facilities
Maintenance of old wells and sanitary spaces
Awareness of hygiene and good sanitary practices

Child well being : health center, child-friendly spaces

Construction of four new schools (2019)
Awareness sessions on children's rights and health
Construction and equipment of a health center (3 consultation rooms for 18,000 people, capacity 150 patients / day)
Construction, equipment and implementation of 2 child-friendly spaces (targets 450 children, 90 pregnant and lactating women (educational activities, awareness raising on resilience and nutrition)
Water, hygiene, sanitation : continuation of well drilling, construction of latrines, hygiene education