Bangladesh - Humanitarian Response to Rohingya Refugee Crisis - Doctors Without Borders 2019

January 2019 – Following the outbreak of violence in Northern Rakhine State in August 2017 more than 735 000 Rohingya crossed from Myanmar into Bangladesh over a period of several months.These refugees joined some 200 000 to 300 000 Rohingya already in Bangladesh following earlier waves of displacement. The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in significant humanitarian needs. With GAC’s support Doctors Without Borders is helping to meet the basic health needs of Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazaar Bangladesh focusing particularly on women and girls. Project activities include: (1) providing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for pregnant and lactating women; (2) providing maternity and neonatal care; (3) providing psychosocial support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence; (4) providing 24/7 emergency room services where quality care and treatment are provided for women men girls and boys requiring secondary healthcare; (5) pediatric care for girls and boys under the age of 15; and (6) providing referrals to patients with complex cases as well as regular monitoring of the quality of these referrals and patient outcomes.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) mental health and sexual and gender-based violence services; and (2) improved access to life-saving emergency and secondary health care services including pediatric services. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained for the Rohingya refugee population facing a humanitarian crisis in Cox’s Bazaar Bangladesh.