Rohingya Crisis - Improving Child Protection in Bangladesh - DRC 2020

March 2020 – Following the outbreak of violence in Northern Rakhine State in August 2017 more than 700 000 Rohingya people crossed from Myanmar into Bangladesh over a period of several months. Currently there are approximately 855 000 Rohingya refugees living in 34 highly congested settlements in Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh. The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in significant humanitarian needs. With GAC’s support the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is providing comprehensive protection programming for children at heightened risk of trafficking and abuse focusing on prevention and response through a community-based approach. Project activities include: (1) providing gender-sensitive case management support for child survivors and children and adolescents at risk of protection violations; (2) disseminating information to other agencies on referral pathways for case management services for children; (3) providing family tracing and reunification support to unaccompanied and separated children; (4) providing training to local agencies and community volunteers on identification referral and response; and (5) offering gender-sensitive life and vocational skills programs to children and adolescents.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to coordinated and gender-sensitive child protection services for child survivors and children facing life-threatening risks of abuse neglect violence exploitation and severe distress; and (2) enhanced community-based child protection mechanisms that alleviate community child protection risks. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in communities experiencing humanitarian crises or that are food insecure.