Dhaka, Bangladesh, 3 August 2022 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC), with support from the European Union, has implemented health and protection programming in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The project focused on Rohingya and nearby host communities’ needs, especially for acute and comprehensive healthcare, information and legal assistance, and as clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The project was implemented in partnership with Solidarites International (SI), with funding by the European Union amounting to a total contribution of 2.6 million euros.
Bangladesh hosts almost one million Rohingya refugees, a Muslim minority in Myanmar that has faced violence and discrimination ever since 2012. In 2017, over 700,000 fled to Bangladesh and as the country had not seen a displacement of this scale, it led to overcrowded refugee camps and dwindling basic resources. Additionally, against the backdrop of COVID-19, it has become more important to strengthen health, protection, and WASH efforts and services.
The IRC has been active in Bangladesh since 2017 where it has been delivering life-sustaining services to vulnerable individuals – such as women, girls, and persons with specific needs – residing in refugee camps and surrounding host communities. Through this partnership with the ECHO, the IRC has been able to offer comprehensive health care – including sexual reproductive health care – either in its Primary Health Care Centres (PHCC) or through its mobile medical teams. The IRC has also supported clients through referrals and legal assistance, as well as provided mediation and information services. This was done in partnership with Solidarités International (SI), who implemented WASH activities, providing facilities and distributing hygiene kits. An estimated 117,800 persons have been reached, of which almost 65,000 are women and girls and around 53,000 are children and adolescents. Solidarités International (SI) was able to reach an estimated 72,000 individuals in total through their programs.
Manish Agarwal, Country Director of IRC Bangladesh, said:
“It is extremely difficult for refugees to navigate their day-to-day lives as they do not have the means to adequately provide for themselves, considering what they have been exposed to and had to leave behind. In addition, the overcrowding of camps and lack of resources raises many health concerns and adds to the stress that many suffer from. For this reason, it is crucial for the IRC and its partners, like the European Union, to remain relentless in scaling up life-saving assistance for those that are most affected.”