Bangladesh - Humanitarian Response to Rohingya Refugee Crisis - Oxfam Canada 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 Oxfam Canada is helping to meet the essential water sanitation hygiene and protection needs of Rohingya refugees affected by this crisis Bangladesh. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating existing water and sanitation facilities; (2) constructing gender sensitive communal latrines based on women and girl-led designs; (3) conducting hygiene promotion in refugee and host community schools; and (4) training of local authorities and traditional leaders on women and girls’ roles and rights legal entitlements protection and referral pathways.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of improved hygiene practices and safe and dignified gender-sensitive sanitation facilities conforming to expressed preferences of women and girls in Cox’s Bazar; and (2) improved safe access to humanitarian services especially for women and girls in Cox’s Bazar. The expected ultimate outcome is reduced suffering increased and maintained human dignity and lives saved for Rohingya refugees particularly women and girls in camps and informal settlements of Ukhiya Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh.