Bangladesh - Humanitarian Response to the Rohingya Crisis - International Rescue Committee 2022

February 2022 – 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 close to 1 million Rohingya refugees live in 33 highly congested settlements in Cox’s Bazar and almost 20 000 have been relocated to the island of Bhasan Char. Refugees continue to face significant challenges particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and are highly reliant on international assistance to meet basic needs. With GAC’s support the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and their local partner Young Power in Social Action are helping improve the health and safety of Rohingya refugees by providing integrated gender-based violence prevention and response services. Project activities include: (1) operating integrated women’s centres and providing survivor-centred sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) case management services and sexual and reproductive health support for women girls and other marginalized community members; (2) training service providers in comprehensive SGBV psychosocial support and case management processes; and (3) conducting outreach and awareness-raising sessions in the broader refugee community.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved projection and treatment of women and girls from the consequences of abuse violence neglect and SGBV; and (2) increased sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and adolescent girls. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in communities experiencing humanitarian crises or that are food insecure.