Since 25 August 2017, over 1.1 million Rohingyarefugees are living under extreme poverty lineat coastal area namedBhasan char of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Among the refugee community, most of them are women and children. As the humanitarian condition of the world’s largest refugee settlement, people from the refugee community facemany challenges such as their quality health care, proper nutrition support, and livelihood development.
Living in camp, they have temporary shelter which has
little privacy and living under overcrowded situation. The number of refugees
in Bangladesh has increased rapidly. According to the UN Refugee Agency
(UNHCR), since 2017, more than 723,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh. They
didn’t have any self dependency. They are dependent on humanitarian assistance
and essential supports at this situation.
Ayesha is a Rohingya mother who lives in Cox's Bazar. She
fled Myanmar with her family after their house was burned down and relatives
were killed. At refugee camp, she received support from Concern Worldwide,
including nutritional assistance and seeds for vegetable cultivation. She
worries about the future if this aid were to stop but remains hopeful for her
children's well-being and future opportunities, emphasizing the critical need
for ongoing support for refugees.
“We are now happy because Concern Worldwide provided us
seeds and nutrition supports. We cannot buy these things from the outside,”
said Ayesha.
Through the refugee nutrition centre of concern, children
from the camp receives primary health examination, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference
(MUAC) screening for SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition), super cereal plus under
the activity of Targeted Supplementary Feeding and Ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF).
To develop livelihoods and ensure nutritious foods, Concern
provides seeds, fertilizer and training to meet the demand for nutritious food
at household level for women and children in Rohingya refugee camps.
He says, “I was worried about my income source. Some
months ago, I was unable to manage sufficient food for my family. But now, with
the training support of Concern’s homestead vegetable gardening, I am able to
ensure proper nutritious food for my family and sell extra vegetables to my
refugee neighborsto generate extra income.”
This year, Rohingya refugees are covering 8 years of
repatriation. Initially, they had much more suffering, struggles, and dilemmas.
Concern is now on the ground and actively responding to the crisis to support
the overall development of the refugee community. However, as one of the most
vulnerable communities, they are now receiving much-needed humanitarian
assistance in health care, nutrition support, and livelihood improvements.
Through this support, they are becoming more resilient day by day, leading to a
more transformed and improved life than before.