Two Years On: Supporting Resilience for a Better Tomorrow - ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS RESPONSE REPORT 2019
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Two Years On: Supporting Resilience for a Better Tomorrow
ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS RESPONSE REPORT 2019
Contents
Leaders’ Message 04
Year 2 Accomplishments Infographic 06
Camp Intervention Sites Map 07
PROTECTION 08
Child Protection 10
Education 12
Gender-based Violence Prevention 14
WASH 16
NUTRITION 20
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Overview 22
E-voucher programme 23
Fresh food vouchers 24
Community cooking and learning centres 26
CASH, FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS 30
HOST COMMUNITIES 32
ADVOCACY 35
STAFF PROFILES 36
LESSONS LEARNED 38
THE ROAD AHEAD 40
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 41
World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy
organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to
overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of
religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
Produced by World Vision Bangladesh on behalf of World Vision International.
© World Vision International 2019
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any
form, except for brief excerpts in reviews, without prior permission of the
publisher.
Editor-in-Chief: Karen Homer
Contributing writers: Himaloy Joseph Mree, Kari Costanza, Sara Leister
Design and front cover photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
A warm thank you to all our staff members who contributed to this report.
For more information about World Vision's response,
contact Rachel Wolff, Response Director: rachel_wolff@wvi.org
©Photographer name
Leaders’ Message “Refugee children and their families are front and centre of everything we do,” says Rachel Wolff, Response Director. Photo: Jon Warren
Fifteen-year-old Shahed and his lives in the camps are more stable services across six sectors to more infrastructure across the camps and but not without their rights guaranteed.
family fled for their lives as violence now, Rohingya children still face the than 370,000 people in 23 camps. prevented loss of life during the Unfortunately, they will likely remain in
erupted in their village in Myanmar risk of abuse, neglect and Our budget more than doubled monsoons. In partnership with Bangladesh for some time to come. We
two years ago. As they ran, Shahed exploitation, as well as physical from $10.75 million in Year 1 to UNICEF, we launched an education will continue to stand with Rohingya
grabbed his textbooks from his danger and disease. Our goal is to $26.9 million in Year 2. initiative that will benefit up to 8,400 families, advocating with them for their
home. He walked for six days to help prevent such abuses, while adolescents who have no access to rights while providing protection and
reach safety in Bangladesh, his protecting and promoting children’s We are immensely proud of our any kind of education. We opened our life-sustaining services.
books strapped on his back. Hope rights. This is foundational to our resilient, dedicated team members. first full-sized women’s safe space and
kept him going. long-term strategy to improve the Our 350 full-time response staff plans are in the works for four more. Today, Shahed attends one of our
well-being and empowerment of and 700 field facilitators work six Our food assistance programmes adolescent multi-purpose centres. He
Today, Shahed lives alongside both the refugees and host days a week to assist refugee reached 247,415 refugees. Our tells our staff that he wants to be a
almost 1 million people in the community families. children and families. maternal and child nutrition centres teacher so he can help other Rohingya
world’s largest refugee settlement. reported a zero percent death rate children. He has faith in the future. We
More than half the population here We are grateful to our generous This year, we surpassed even our due to malnutrition among children do, too. Together with our donors and
are children. private supporters and government “stretch goals” in multiple areas. We under age 5. partners, World Vision is walking with
donors who make our life-saving, became the World Food Rohingya children and families toward a
Protecting vulnerable children like life-sustaining work possible. Your Programme’s largest partner in What lays ahead as we enter Year 3 of more sustainable, dignified and
Shahed remained World Vision’s support enabled us to innovate, disaster risk reduction. Our this protracted humanitarian crisis? The self-reliant tomorrow. Please join us on
top priority this year. Although their adapt and deliver cost-effective cash-for-work projects strengthened Rohingya say they want to go home, this journey.
Rachel Wolff Fred Witteveen
Response Director National Director
4 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 5
Year 2 Accomplishments CAMP INTERVENTION SITES
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Assets Built
Hajimmapara
World Vision Sectors
Raja Palong
Naikhongchhari
1 Camp 4
Camp 1E
Camp 1W
Camp
Kutupalong RC
Ghandung
Kutupalong RC
Camp 3
2W
Camp 2E
Camp
Ukhia
6 Camp 7
Camp 5
Palong Khali Camp 17 Camp 8W
Camp 8E
Kutupalong MS + Balukhali MS
Food Assistance, Livelihood Cash-for-work Project Sites
Camp 9
+ Expansion Zones
Camp 20 Camp 18 Camp 10
Balukhali
Pachim
Camp 13/Thangkhali Camp 19
Camp 12
Camp 11
Camp 13
Camp 14/Hakimpara 2 Camp 14
Camp 15
Balukhali
Damonkhali
Learning Centres (12)
Camp 16
Goyalmara
M Y A N M A R
Protection (GBV)
Mucharkula
Camp 15/Jamtoli East
Immamer Deil Palongkhali
(Choukhali) Kerontoli Ghilatoli Kathakhali
Monirghona Chakmarkul
Camp 21 - (Chakmarkul)
371,611
Madarbuniya
Multi-purpose Child and
Dainggakata
Child Protection
Adolescents Centres (21)
Lambabeel
Jalia Palong Whykong
Shapotkhali Unchingprang
Chiallapara
Unchiprang
Camp 22
(Unchiprang)
Education
Shamlapur
Camp 23 - (Shamlapur)
Kanjerpara
Community Cooking and Jumpara
Nayapara
people reached with life-saving Learning Centres (42) Main Road
Baharchhara Teknaf
WASH Shilkhali
humanitarian assistance.
Nhilla
Women’s Safe Space (1) WV Presence
Baharchora
0 0.25
Pankhali
Nutrition Uluchamri
3
WFP Nutrition Centres (3)
Camp 25 - (Ali Khali)
Proposed WV Presence
Camp Management
Camp 24 - Leda MS
.Æ
Leda expansion
Teknaf
3,132 8,400
Nayapara expansion
Camp 26 - (Nayapara / Salbon) Nayapara RC
Shelter & NFI UNICEF Nutrition Centres (19) Camp 27- Jadimura
XXX/YYY UNHCR/NGO camp lead
ted Nations
XXX/YYY IOM/NGO camp lead
children enrolled in our adolescents to benefit from
12 learning centres. our 21 pre-vocational skills
training centres. 1
Camp 1E
UNHCR / BRAC
2
892 300,000
Hakimpara
Camp 14
Camp 1W IOM / CHRISTIAN AID
UNHCR / BRAC
Kutupalong RC
men and boys participated people reached with UNHCR / BRAC
in GBV-prevention and clean water and Modurchara Camp 3 Camp 2W Camp 15
awareness training. sanitation facilities. Camp 4
UNHCR / ACTED
UNHCR / ACTED
UNHCR / DRC
Kutupalong MS Camp 2E Jamtali
IOM / CHRISTIAN AID
Camp 4 UNHCR / DRC
Extension Camp 16
UNHCR / ACTED IOM / CARE
Camp 6 Bagghona
15,300 247,415
UNHCR / DRC Camp 7
Camp 5 UNHCR / DRC
UNHCR / DRC
children received refugees reached through our
nutrition support. e-voucher programmes, Camp 17 Camp 8W TeliparaS
in partnership with WFP. Camp 20
UNHCR / ACTED IOM / DRC
Camp 8E 3
Extension IOM / DRC
IOM / IOM
Camp 25 - (Ali Khali)
Zone ZZ IOM / IOM
5,250 16,828
Balukhali MS
Camp 20
Camp 9
IOM / IOM
Camp 18 IOM / IOM Camp 24 - (Leda)
Camp 10 IOM / IOM
IOM / IOM
IOM / IOM
family members who enjoy refugees and host community
daily meals prepared by residents hired for cash-for-work
mothers in our 42 community disaster-mitigation construction.
Nayapara RC
Camp 11 UNHCR / ADRA
Tasnimar khola
Camp 19 IOM / ACTION AID
cooking and learning centres. IOM /PUI Mainnergona
Camp 26 - (Nayapara / Salbon)
UNHCR / ADRA
Camp 12
Camp 13
920,000 people
IOM / ACTION AID
IOM / CARE
Burma Para
We are advocating for the protection and Camp 27 - (Jadhimora)
rights of all refugees, including their voluntary,
UNHCR / ADRA
safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar. Kutupalang-Balukhali expansion site, known as the “mega camp”
6 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 7
PROTECTION
PROTECTION
Caring for vulnerable children and families
Two years on, the Rohingya refugee including more than 400,000 Despite this progress, the Rohingya
crisis remains at its core, a children—have fled into Cox’s Bazar. remain at risk and their future
protection crisis. Today almost 1 million stateless uncertain. Without recognised refugee
Rohingya refugees live in extremely status in Bangladesh or legal
The Rohingya people represent one overcrowded camps in Teknaf and citizenship in Myanmar, they are
of the world’s largest groups of Ukhiya upazilas (sub-districts). citizens of nowhere.
stateless people.
The Government of Bangladesh has Approximately 50 percent of
They have faced decades of demonstrated great compassion and pre-primary and primary learners —
systematic discrimination, humanity with its open border as well as 97 percent of youth and
statelessness and targeted violence policy, providing solace and a level of adolescents — lack access to even
in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Such protection to vulnerable children informal learning opportunities. Their
persecution has forced Rohingya and their families. parents do not have access to
women, girls, boys and men into income-generating opportunities that
Bangladesh for many years, with Two years into this multifaceted would enable them to provide basic
significant spikes following violent collaborative response, the situation necessities for their children.
attacks in 1978, 1991-1992, and has gradually begun to stabilise. The
again in 2016. Government of Bangladesh, United Without legal rights and protection, all
Nations agencies and NGOs, refugees, and especially children, are
Yet it was extreme violence in including World Vision, have vulnerable to human trafficking, child
August 2017 that triggered by far provided life-saving assistance, labour, forced labour, child/early
the largest and fastest refugee influx improved living conditions in the marriage, gender-based violence and Without the protection of schooling, many children play unsupervised in the hazardous camps or are often forced to work. Photo: Jon Warren
into Bangladesh. Since then, an camps, and implemented successful other forms of exploitation and abuse.
estimated 745,000 Rohingya, disaster-risk mitigation measures.
To mitigate a deepening protection refugees in the camps, and advocate
crisis, a comprehensive refugee for their safe, dignified and voluntary
Rohingya refugee families are extremely vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labour and other forms of exploitation. Photo: Jon Warren response is needed that addresses return to Myanmar when conditions
the needs of both refugee and host are conducive there to do so.
communities. Durable solutions are
required that build the resilience of As we enter Year 3 of the response,
communities to mitigate shocks and we will strengthen and expand this
stresses. This includes safe, adequate rights-based approach in our
and dignified housing, high quality, long-term service to the Rohingya
relevant and inclusive education, and and their host-community neighbours.
access to income-generating activities.
World Vision is contributing to the
improved well-being and
empowerment of refugee and host
communities through our
cross-sectoral interventions. We are
also promoting and protecting their
rights through our advocacy work
with international, national and local
governments. Our goal is to help
protect the safety and dignity of
World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 9
PROTECTION
Children campaign to end violence
Rohingya children are calling for an go to the toilet outside at night. I’m communities must be fully involved in
end to the violence and exploitation afraid that someone will attack me.” the solutions from the start.”
that they routinely face. Madrasas (religious schools) and
World Vision child-friendly centres World Vision engaged more than
During an ongoing World Vision topped the children’s lists of safe 5,300 parents and community leaders
awareness campaign, thousands of spaces, with their homes a distant in the campaign, including 75 faith
children reported frequent abuse at third for some due to domestic abuse. leaders. The children developed their
the hands of parents, strangers and own public messages targeted to
older children. In focus group The young campaigners urged parents parents and camp leaders. Their
discussions, both children and parents and leaders to protect them physically colourful posters don’t mince words:
described incidents of beating, yelling, and to protect their rights to safety. “It should not hurt to be a child;
hitting, name calling, peer-to-peer But changing attitudes about harmful Hands are not for hitting children; We
violence, harassment, forced heavy traditional practices takes time. want education, not marriage.”
labour and child marriage as being
common in the camps. “Parents admit that they sometimes Through the campaign, Rohingya
emotionally and physically abuse their children are now more aware of their
Children spoke out bravely about the children because of their own distress rights to safety and can better protect
forms of violence they encounter, as and uncertainty about the future,” themselves and each other.
well as safe and unsafe places in says James Kamira, World Vision’s
Camps 12, 13, 15, 18 and 19, where education and child protection “In the child-friendly space,
the campaign was conducted. advisor. I can play and learn. There is
Children pile through the door at one of World Vision’s 12 centres where more than 3,100 children age 3-14 are enrolled. Photo: Jon Warren “I’m afraid of going far from my home “They are open to changing their no one to be afraid of there,
in the camp,” says Shoshida, 10, a ways,” says James. “But if we are truly and that’s why I like it.”
campaign participant. “An elephant or determined to end violence, children Jobair, age 10
CHILD PROTECTION a tiger may attack me. I cannot even themselves, their families and their
Coming alongside Rohingya children Children listed child-friendly spaces as one of the two top places in the camps where they feel most safe. Photo: Jon Warren
Across the camps, almost 500,000 committees this year with 2,464 children who are becoming
children need immediate child active members. During the peacebuilders as they
protection assistance. They face monsoon and cyclone seasons, we learn to manage conflict together.
serious risks, including psychosocial equipped them with information on To enhance our staff capacity, we
distress, neglect, abuse, separation how to respond to landslides and conducted training on case
from caregivers, sexual violence, child floods to help save lives. We also management, and community
marriage, child labour and trafficking. established 11 meeting points engagement and participation.
Girls are particularly vulnerable to where lost or missing children and
child marriage, sexual exploitation, caregivers can find support during a As a member of the child protection
abuse and neglect. natural disaster or other crises. sub-sector, we took the lead in
conducting quality monitoring, using
Child protection is core to World Rohingya children also need a benchmarks developed by the
Vision’s mission. This year, we provided variety of direct services. We sub-sector. We also led research on
child protection services with support provide psychosocial support to ending violence against children for
from DFID, DEC and GAC, as well as girls and boys of all ages through the entire response. World Vision was
private funds. We integrated ongoing our 12 centres where more than selected as a member of the child
services with informal education by 3,100 children age 3-14 are protection peer review team for the
transforming child-friendly spaces into enrolled. (Sixteen additional centres 2019 Joint Response Plan projects.
multi-purpose centres, in partnership were completed this year to serve We also serve on the case
with UNICEF. World Vision more children.) We also offer management task force. In January
strengthens child protection families training on positive 2019, we rolled-out a child protection
mechanisms within families and parenting skills. Working closely with information management system to
communities through partner agencies, we refer children harmonize case management. More
community-based child protection in need to case management than 200 children received
committees. We established 224 services. We set up 30 clubs for case-management services.
10 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019
PROTECTION
EDUCATION
A right, not a dream
Rohingya refugee children and adolescents have been 18-year-olds this year. Students benefit from
out of school for two years. Nearly half of the 540,000 pre-vocational training and foundational classes in
Rohingya children age 3-14 do not have access to any literacy, numeracy and life skills. The pilot centre has
formal education, which is restricted in the camps. This reached 186 adolescents with training in tailoring and
means children cannot sit for exams or pass a grade level. solar appliances repair. Looking to learn about our
A reported 97 percent of all adolescents age 15-18 do model, decision-makers from governments and donor
not attend any kind of educational facility. agencies, including Islamic Development Bank, USAID
and UNICEF, regularly visit the centre. Already 2,237
This year, World Vision expanded our child protection adolescents have shown intent to enroll in the 20
work to include informal education, in partnership with additional centres when construction is completed
UNICEF. Children age 3-14 and adolescents age 15-18 later this year.
benefit from our approach that integrates education with
child protection activities and psychosocial support. More World Vision has contributed significantly to the
than 3,100 children are enrolled in our 12 learning response-wide education sector. We have helped
centres for younger children. Qualified experienced develop curriculum and standardise core educational
teachers are in short supply, so we invested in on-the-job materials. We are also leading critical research,
training for 198 teachers that includes pedagogy and interviewing more than 400 children, parents, teachers
life-skills development. and leaders about education needs. World Vision has
been at the forefront of effectively engaging faith
World Vision is the only organisation in many camps leaders to address cultural barriers that prevent girls
addressing adolescents’ education needs. We opened the from attending school.
“I want to be a teacher or a doctor or an engineer,” says Shahed, an ambitious 15-year-old. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
first of 21 planned multi-purpose centres for 15- to
Shahed wants his education back
Adolescent boys enjoy learning new skills, such as solar panel repair, at World Vision’s multi-purpose centre. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
Shahed wants to talk about his get formal schooling there and study educated,” he says. “I want to be an
education. This 15-year-old Rohingya up to the level we wanted. Here engineer so that I can make airplanes,
teenager is desperate to get back we can’t.” and people will be able to go abroad.”
to school.
Education can change the future for Shahed is not alone. Thousands of
“I completed Grade 6 in Myanmar. thousands of refugee children like Rohingya children dream about going
After the violence broke out, we fled Shahed. Thankfully, he is one of 186 back to the classroom wearing a new
to Bangladesh, and I left my students enrolled in World Vision’s uniform and carrying a backpack full
education behind,” says Shahed, new training programme that will of books. Education should be more
speaking English confidently. benefit up to 8,400 adolescents. than a dream; it is their right.
Shahed carried his Grade 6 books on “The centre opened four
his back during his week-long walk months ago, and I have been
from Myanmar. He studies them at
home—a cramped, leaking shelter coming ever since,” says
where he lives with his parents and six Shahed. “We are studying
siblings. English is his favorite subject. math, English, grammar
and Burmese.”
“If the situation goes on without us
getting education, I would rather die. I Shahed has a long wish list for his
can't get a good job if I can't get an future. “I want to be a teacher or a
education, and I will have to dig dirt doctor or an engineer. To serve
as a day labourer,” says Shahed. "I people, I want to be a doctor. I also
want to go back to Myanmar want to be teacher so that I can help
because it is my country. We could the children of our community to be
World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 13
PROTECTION
A safe space women can call their own
“We had a peaceful family in community’s trust. Each week, a GBV-prevention programme. “The
Myanmar, but my husband has taken growing group of women and girls centre is a place where women can
two more wives here,” says Khadija,* attend the sewing classes here. Many feel free to talk with others over a
a 30-year-old Rohingya mother of also take advantage of the counselling cup of tea.”
three children. “He doesn’t provide services for GBV survivors.
any money, but he asks me for food. Khadija found the support she
Anything he earns, he gives to the Some of the women say they believe needed to cope with her home
other women. When I asked him why incidents of physical and emotional situation. She says that her new-found
he does this, he started to beat me.” abuse have increased since they circle of friends has made life in the
(*Note: Her name has been arrived in the camps in August 2017. camps a bit more bearable and given
changed.) Domestic violence can be linked to her a sense of security.
the extreme emotional stress that
Living in fear, Khadija shared her refugee couples face, as well as “World Vision staff have
secret with her neighbour, Tasmin, financial strain and coping with
who invited her to come to World cramped living conditions. Frustrated taught us how to speak up if
Vision’s Women’s Peace Centre. at being blocked from employment, we are abused and report it.
husbands become angry when their They give very good advice,”
This is one of the few places in the wives ask for anything, using physical says Khadija. “When I come
camps that women are allowed to violence to silence them. here and share my grief with
visit. In the conservative Rohingya
culture, women and adolescent girls “We provide counseling for women others, I feel better.”
are rarely allowed to leave their who are experiencing gender-based
Women and girls find the psycho-social support they need at our Women’s Peace Centre. Photo: Karen Homer shelters alone. Families fear they will violence and refer them to other
be harassed, abducted or assaulted. professional services available in the
However, since the centre opened, camps,” says Ruth Kimaathi, a Kenyan
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION staff have gradually won the psychologist who leads World Vision’s
Standing with women and girls Rohingya women build support networks as they learn new skills together for a better future. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
Rohingya refugee women and girls face a On International Women’s Day (8 March), we opened the
disproportionate risk of gender-based violence (GBV). Women’s Peace Centre—our first full-sized multipurpose
centre for women. Women and girls participated in
Intimate partner violence is often accepted by both men activities that help build trusted relationships and create a
and women as a normal way of moderating behaviour. It sustainable psycho-social support network. Thirty
is seen as a natural consequence of a woman not participants graduated from the first three-month tailoring
performing her duties properly. Of the reported cases of and handicraft production course. Addressing a significant
GBV in the camps, 71 percent of the incidents occurred need, we distributed dignity kits containing feminine
in the survivor’s home. Intimate partners committed 74 hygiene products to 20,600 women and girls.
percent of these cases of violence.
In June, we trained Rohingya faith leaders to help end GBV,
Rohingya women have few livelihood opportunities and especially child marriage. World Vision introduced
they lack control over their household finances. Their Channels of Hope, a proven approach to engaging faith
movement outside the home is limited. Their dependence leaders for which our expertise is recognized globally. A
and lack of social support makes them even more renowned Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and a woman
susceptible to abuse and exploitation. teacher led a pilot workshop for 70 imams and influential
women. Together, they explored beliefs and traditions
World Vision works to prevent and respond to GBV in about child marriage and united to advocate against
Camps 12, 13 and 19, complementing our broader marriage before age 18 in their communities.
programmes across 23 camps for women and children.
In Year 2, we trained women and girls to recognize GBV Building on the success of our early GBV-prevention
and supported them to access professional case projects supported by World Vision Canada, the Japan
management services when needed. We also trained 892 Platform Fund, DEC and World Vision Korea, our work in
men and boys who are becoming keen advocates for this important area has grown with additional funding from
their wives, daughters, mothers and sisters. GAC, MFAT and DFAT.
14 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019
WASH
WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH)
Good hygiene equals good health
Supplying sufficient safe water and with access to WASH services. Across improved WASH education.
sanitation services to nearly 1 million 10 camps, we installed 98 deep-tube Through our hygiene promotion
refugees is a huge challenge for the wells, built 140 gender-sensitive sessions, refugees are learning how to
Government of Bangladesh, UN bathing cubicles, constructed 716 maintain good health and prevent
agencies and NGOs. latrines and established 421 disease, including safe water
handwashing points. We supported collection and storage. They
Up to 38 percent of the population more than 48 WASH committees to understand how to treat their water
faces challenges accessing water, manage and maintain their facilities, a at home using bucket chlorination
according to a recent ACAPS study. community-led approach that results and aqua tabs. More than 32,000
Although the SPHERE standard of in sustainable impact. A leading NGO families received hygiene kits in Year 2.
one tube well per 250 people is in waste-water treatment, this year
being met, there are not enough World Vision established the first We want ensure the delivery of clean
functioning and easily reachable integrated solid-waste management water at every tap in the community.
water points in the camps. More centre in the camps. Our Year 2 water supply strategy will
sanitation services are also needed focus on constructing a centralized
to meet the SPHERE standard of one Poor water quality remains a problem, water system and networks, including
latrine per 20 people. Currently, putting children and families at risk of boreholes, a solar-powered pumping
there are 41,100 functioning latrines; diseases. Water quality testing of system, and water treatment and
5,000 more are needed. Adequate various NGO water sources at World distribution systems.
WASH services are critical to Vision’s laboratory revealed that
reducing mortality and morbidity, and more than 60 percent are World Vision’s effective WASH
enhancing refugees’ protection, contaminated; 85 percent of water programmes continue to receive
Ismatara, 8, collects water from one of 98 tube wells installed by World Vision in 10 camps. Photo: Jon Warren
dignity and quality of life. samples at household level are also generous support, including funding
contaminated. Contamination often from DFAT, DFID, GAC, IOM, MFAT
In Year 2, World Vision provided occurs during water collection and and UNICEF.
129,794 adults and 170,212 children storage, indicating a need for A tube well for Ismatara
During hygiene promotions sessions, children learn how handwashing with soap helps prevent disease. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
outbreaks. “Water means life for women in this water is not deep, but it flows,” says on her hip. It was tiring and
camp,” says Lalaputu, 31, a refugee Rahamat. “But the water is not time-consuming. Sometimes, she
mother of six children. “Water is the drinkable. We dug a hole beside the had to miss sessions at the
most important thing I need. Without stream and waited for it to fill up. We child-friendly space that she loves.
water, cooking meals, washing clothes hoped the sand and soil would work
and bathing would be impossible.” as filters.” “This tube well removed the pain
of collecting water from afar,”
Lalaputu has lived in the world’s largest Sadly, Rahamat’s desperate measures says Ismatara.
refugee camp here in Cox’s Bazar, didn’t work. “My children and my wife
Bangladesh since fleeing violence in got sick drinking that water,” he says. “I can drink water and
Myanmar in August 2017. “They had diarrhea and other health
problems, but we had no choice. We bathe easily now. Drinking
Alongside almost 1 million people, one had to drink that water.” water from the tube well
of Lalaputu’s challenges was getting safe doesn’t give me stomach
water for her children—a problem she Thankfully, those days are over. Now pain and diarrhea. It’s safe!”
didn’t worry about in her home village Lalaputu and her daughter, Ismatara, 8,
in Myanmar. There her family had a can collect water from the deep-tube
tube well next to their house. They well that World Vision installed near
could get water whenever they their house. Each deep-tube well
needed. Neighbours also collected serves 100 families—about 500
water from their tube well. people on average.
Lalaputu’s husband, Rahamat, recalls the Ismatara no longer has to walk far to
family’s early struggles to find water in collect water, scaling the camp’s many
the refugee camp. “A bit far down the steep sandy hills while balancing a
hill from our shelter, runs a stream. The heavy eight-litre aluminum water jar
World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 17NUTRITION
NUTRITION
Conquering malnutrition—one child at a time
In Year 2 of the response, malnutrition continued to be a lactating women, and children under age 5 to the centres.
critical concern among Rohingya children and women. A Once there, our staff assess their nutrition level. Healthy
recent SMART survey revealed that 11 percent of children and mothers receive supplementary food to
children in the camps have moderate acute malnutrition. prevent malnutrition. Those assessed as suffering from
More than 208,000 children age 0-59 months need moderate acute malnutrition are given high-energy food
life-saving nutrition interventions. Child malnutrition is the supplements and are monitored until they recover.
single biggest contributor to deaths in children under age Severely malnourished children and mothers are referred
5, making them more susceptible to disease and delayed to partner agencies who provide appropriate medical
recovery from common illnesses. In addition, only 24 and nutritional care.
percent of refugee women achieve the recommended
minimum dietary diversity. Every day, we reach an average of 800 children with
supplementary food assistance. A total of 15,294 children
Mothers often aren’t aware of proper infant and child were served throughout the year. World Vision’s cure
feeding practices. If they are, they don’t have access to rate for children suffering from moderate acute
nutritious foods. Training future mothers about good malnutrition was 92 percent, with a death rate of
nutrition can have an intergenerational effect, yet zero percent.
adolescent girls age 15-18 are significantly underserved in
this area. In addition, only 24 percent of refugee women The first phase of this successful project ended in
achieve the recommended minimum dietary diversity, December 2018, and was renewed for another year.
putting them at risk of malnutrition. This year, we also launched a nutrition programme with
UNICEF across 19 camps. Our community workers go
World Vision works to address all these challenges. In house-to-house to provide iron and folic acid Jaheda celebrates two-year-old Minara’s recovery from malnutrition after treatment at World Vision’s feeding centre. Photo: Jon Warren
partnership with the World Food Programme, we supplementation to thousands of adolescent girls and
operate three blanket and targeted supplementary pregnant and lactating women, to help prevent anemia.
feeding centres. Our community workers go
house-to-house to identify and refer pregnant and
They also benefit from sessions on nutrition education.
A mother’s prayer answered
Mothers learn how to prepare the supplementary food they receive to help prevent child malnutrition. Photo: Jon Warren
Minara was born in November 2017 as At the World Vision centre, Minara Plumpy’Sup every 14 days until they
her family escaped violence in Myanmar. was assessed as having moderate reach their normal weight-for-height.
Her young mother, Jaheda, stopped at a acute malnutrition. Today, five months
stranger’s house to give birth to Minara. and 10 visits later, she is a different Although World Vision staff see 350
child—happy, healthy and playful. children every day at this camp’s
Jaheda struggled to care for her centre, they keenly recall Minara.
newborn on the arduous trek to To help prevent malnutrition, World
Bangladesh. “Day-by-day she was getting Vision supplies all children under age “I remember her,” says
tinier,” she recalls. “When I arrived here, 5 in the three camps with monthly
she was about to die. People were rations of Super Cereal. This blend of Neger Sultana, a growth
telling me, ‘Your daughter will not live. I corn, soy beans, milk powder, sugar, monitor at the centre. “She
thought, ‘Oh my God. Am I going to and soy bean oil is packed with was tiny. If she hadn’t come
lose my baby?’” Minara survived, but vitamins and complements here, she would have died.”
remained significantly underweight for breastfeeding. Through the Super
her age. Cereal, children receive the nutrients
they need to stay healthy.
Last year, a community worker from
World Vision’s nutrition centre visited Children like Minara, who are suffering
Jaheda’s home in the refugee camp. from moderate acute malnutrition,
receive the Super Cereal along with a
“She registered Minara right here,” says ration of Plumpy’Sup—a ready-to-use,
Jaheda. “That’s why I later brought her high-energy food supplement. It
to the centre. She was so tiny. She comes in packets, is easy for a child to
didn’t like to eat.” Just 14 months old by eat and can be stored without
then, Minara often had a fever and refrigeration. World Vision monitors
rashes covered her head. the malnourished children taking
World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 21FOOD ASSISTANCE
E-vouchers give refugees choice, restore dignity
For the past 24 months, Rahazan, her Rahazan, 38, and her family are among lentils, but now they’re getting
husband, Rashid, and their seven the 700,000 Rohingya who fled healthier,” she says.
children have eaten the same bland Myanmar in August 2017 to escape
bowl of lentils and rice for breakfast, extreme violence and decades of Rahazan’s children agree. “I love the
lunch and dinner. human rights abuses. She remembers fruit my mother buys for us now,”
arriving in Bangladesh, desperate to says Haikel, Rahazan’s 15-year-old
Now, after about 2,000 monotonous get food for her family. son, peeling an orange. “I want to be
such meals, this family can finally a teacher so I can buy fruit for my
choose what they want to eat today. “I brought my three-year-old son, mother one day.”
Solim and my daughter, Tasmin, (age
Rahazan is one of 144,085 refugees 13) with me to collect food and Rahazan says she enjoys preparing
who has received a WFP pre-paid clothes thrown from relief trucks,” says the evening meal for her family.
e-voucher. Each family receives a Rahazan. “We ran in the mud beside
card loaded with 770 taka (about the truck, perilously close to its wheels. “My children don’t go to
USD10) per person. Rahazan’s My children would cry out, ‘Give me bed hungry anymore. We
e-voucher allows her to shop at one one! Give me one!’ to the workers.
of a dozen WFP stores in the camps, We were crushed in the crowd, but have proper meals twice
choosing from 19 items, including we had to get food for our family. We a day with the vegetables
fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fish, were lucky to eat one meal a day.” I purchase from the
eggs, salt, spices and sugar. e-voucher store.”
So much has changed in two years,
Rahazan can shop when she wants says Rahazan. Today, she is grateful to
Using her e-voucher, Rahazan buys oranges for her children at the WFP store, supported by World Vision. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain for what she wants. “Now I can be able shop in the clean, organized
choose and purchase our food in 25 e-voucher store. “My children were
minutes, instead of lining up for becoming weak eating just rice and
FOOD ASSISTANCE hours,” she says, smiling.
Food on the table: 247,415 refugees reached Rahazan’s family enjoys a more diversified, healthier diet now that she can buy fresh food with her e-voucher. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
Almost 1 million Rohingya refugees are fully reliant on WFP is gradually transferring all households to the
humanitarian food assistance. It’s not by choice. They are convenient e-voucher system. Families using the
not permitted to work, and have no land on which to e-vouchers no longer have to queue for rations. They
grow their own food. have more diversity in their diets, and more control over
what they eat. All refugees should soon be enrolled in the
World Vision is providing direct life-saving food e-voucher programme.
assistance to an estimated 247,415 people, working in
partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). World Vision plays a critical role in ensuring that
beneficiaries are well-served through the e-voucher
Since February 2019, World Vision has distributed 6,120 shops. Staff members go door-to-door in the camps to
metric tonnes of food through three food distribution inform refugees about the new system and register them.
points serving six camps. Refugees queue up for monthly They handle any complaints or concerns, such as lost
life-sustaining rations of rice, lentils and oil. To ensure that cards, and work with local suppliers to guarantee the
the most vulnerable are served, World Vision hires quality of the food provided. The teams also ensure that
Rohingya porters to carry heavy loads home for every shopper’s food is accurately measured, weighed and
pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities. properly debited from the e-voucher.
World Vision also works with WFP in its innovative
e-voucher programme. Refugees receive pre-paid food
assistance cards that they use to purchase fresh food
items in WFP shops in the camps. They can choose from
19 items. Including rice, lentils, dried fish, chili powder and
other spices, as well as seasonal fruit and vegetables.
22 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019FOOD ASSISTANCE
FRESH FOOD VOUCHERS
Healthy moms mean healthy families
“When I was pregnant, I wanted to eat many things,” the squalid, overcrowded refugee camp where available
says Minara, 18, mother of two-month-old Sofait. “I land is scarce.
craved beef curry and sour chutney, a sauce made from
fruit, but I could not afford to buy them.” To help improve the diets of 4,250 pregnant and
lactating women, World Vision began a fresh food
Minara shares how she went without nutritious food voucher project in December 2018 in two refugee
when she needed it most—during her pregnancy. camps. The goal is to provide these mothers with more
diverse nutritious foods, including dried fish, eggs, iodized
Like Minara, many pregnant and lactating women here salt, vegetables (onion, potatoes, pumpkins and spinach),
cannot access the food they need to remain healthy as well as spices, such as chilis and turmeric powder.
themselves and for their babies to grow normally.
Each woman with a family of seven or more people
Refugees are not allowed to work so they lack cash to receives a monthly food voucher valued at USD15;
buy fresh food to supplement the rations of rice, lentils those with families of less than seven receive a USD10
and oil that they receive. (Many now benefit from the voucher. The vouchers can be used at World
more flexible WFP e-voucher programme.) While this Vision-designated shops in the camps to buy 14
monotonous diet sustains life, it does not provide the different food items.
vitamin-rich, high-protein food that pregnant women and
nursing mothers need. Surprisingly, the small-sum vouchers stretch a long way
at the grocery shop. “I received my first fresh food
“Back home in Myanmar, my husband often caught many voucher from World Vision when I was in my third
fish from a nearby canal,” recalls Minara. “But we don’t trimester,” says Minara. “We purchased eggs, dried fish, Minara puts Sofait down for a nap in the family’s small makeshift shelter. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
get those here.” She says her family also grew vegetables sugar, potatoes and many other things from the shop.
on their small plot of land. Gardening is difficult to do in I had good meals for a few days after many months.”
Minara is grateful for the food delivery. She now understands the
Minara,18, with her son, Sofait, is one of 4,250 mothers who received fresh food vouchers from World Vision. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
voucher she received, but she equally importance of nutritious food for
appreciates the decision-making pregnant and nursing mothers.
power that it gave her over her
family’s diet. Stripped of their homes “If I can eat well, then my
and possessions, their country, and
often even their human rights, son gets the breast milk he
refugees feel powerless. Just having needs. If I don’t get enough
the option to choose your own food food, then my baby doesn’t
brings some small sense of dignity. get enough either. World
Vision helped me when I
“The fresh food voucher project is
designed to give women the right to needed it most.”
make their own choices,” says World
Vision programme officer Ruby
Areng, “Women receive the vouchers
and they buy the food for their
families instead of the men, which is
usually the case. It empowers women
in their families and communities.”
Minara believes the food she was
able to purchase thanks to support
from the voucher project contributed
to her having a healthy pregnancy and
World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 25FOOD ASSISTANCE
A recipe for empowering women
“Please have one, take a taste,” says patisapta, a cake made with flour and “After cooking together here, we talk
Setara, proudly holding out a platter sweet rice pudding,” says Setara. “If together about our problems,”
of warm, freshly made crepes. “I we can learn how to make a few confides Setara.
learned how to make these here just more things, we can sell them. Those
this week.” pastries will bring in money.” “If we have worries, we
share them with each other.
Laughter and chatter fills the humid Setara and her neighbours are eager
morning air as Setara and a dozen to earn an income. Refugees are not If anything bad happens to
neighbours cook together at the formally allowed to work in the us, this is a place where
World Vision community cooking and camps, but they need cash to buy we can talk about it freely.
learning centre in Camp 19. Stirring daily necessities. Of the 232,000 We try to share each
vats of fragrant rice and woks of families living here, more than 32,000 other’s burdens.”
simmering sauce, they discuss family are headed by women—most of
matters and the latest news. whom are widows. Never having
worked outside their homes in
“This kitchen is very helpful,” says Myanmar, they are trying to find ways
Setara. “It saves us money because to cope as the family breadwinners.
we don’t have to buy firewood. I have
more money to buy food and other “At the centre, we discuss how we
necessary things for my children.” can improve our situation and have a
better life,” says Setara.
In addition to having a safe,
Fewer children fetch firewood for their families now that their mothers can cook on gas stoves at our community centres. Photo: Jon Warren
convenient place to cook, Setara is The centres provide camaraderie and
expanding her recipe repertoire. “We comfort in a safe, celebrated space
learned how to make pastries like that the women can call their own.
Cooking up strategies for success together
Complex problems demand innovative escalating conflict between refugees women prepare healthy meals while Up to 1,050 women cook meals daily in World Vision’s 42 centres, benefiting some 5,250 family members. Photo: Himaloy Joseph Mree
approaches. Our community cooking and neighbouring landowners. learning about child and maternal
and learning centres are just that. nutrition. During agricultural
Most families cook over open fires in workshops, they learn to plant
Our 42 centres provide a place where their small plastic tarp-and-bamboo gardens in sacks or on rooftops so
more than 1,000 women cook hot shelters. They burn anything they can they can grow fresh vegetables even
meals every day for their families. find—wood, old clothes, plastic bottles in the extremely limited spaces
However, these integrated learning and street garbage. This not only around their shelters.
centres also tackle camp-wide poses a deadly fire hazard in the
issues—from deforestation and energy overcrowded camps, but is a severe At the centres, women also learn
conservation to women’s health risk to children and adults who how to protect their families in the
empowerment and social cohesion. inhale the toxic fumes inside their event of a cyclone or during
cramped homes. Many children monsoon flooding, information they
Piloted with funding from New complain of eye infections and coughs. share with neighbours. They form
Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs their own committees to manage
and Trade and the U.K.’s Disaster’s In our centres, women can cook safely the centres, building their leadership
Emergency Committee, the centres on efficient liquid petroleum gas and problem-solving skills.
were originally built to help prevent stoves. They no longer have to buy
fires and stop deforestation as refugees expensive firewood or send their To meet growing demand, we plan
decimated woodlands in search of children to fetch it. But these centres to scale up, opening several dozen
affordable cooking fuel. have become so much more than a new centres to empower even more
place to cook. Today, they are buzzing women in Year 3.
Refugees remove 700 metric tons of activity hubs where women are
wood—the equivalent of about four learning new skills and building
football fields of trees—daily from local community support networks.
forests. The competition for firewood is In hands-on cooking classes, Rohingya
26 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 2019 Annual Report | Bangladesh Refugee Crisis Response 27CASH, FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS
A labour of love
Hamida fills sandbags alongside her she became the sole breadwinner for to ask me for good food when they
all-women team of construction her two children. She’s not alone. In were hungry, but I couldn’t afford it.
workers. Clad in long, black burkhas the camps, there are an estimated After earning this money, I am so
and tightly wrapped head scarves, they 32,600 female-headed households. happy. I can go to the market to buy
are helping to build a bamboo bridge food for my children. I bought a hen
over a sewage trench. “It’s difficult for a woman to earn and some vegetables, as well as some
money here,” says Hamida. In apples and grapes.”
In the Rohingya refugees’ conservative Myanmar, she and her husband ran a
Muslim culture, it’s uncommon for small quarter-acre farm, gardening and Earning an income gives
women to work outside the home, caring for their livestock. Hamida
especially doing manual labour. But never expected to be a widow at age women and men choices
Hamida and her teammates—all 40 or to have to find a way to feed and a sense of control over
young widows—are willing to test her children on her own. their lives—something
tradition if it means making some many feel they lost in the
money to help feed their children. World Vision provided work for frantic flight from Myanmar.
They are among the thousands of thousands of refugees who
women participating in World Vision’s constructed roads, pathways, drains
innovative cash-for-work programme. and bridges across the camp’s muddy,
sloping terrain. Teams worked in
“We fill bags with sand and cement, rotations to ensure that many families
level pathways and weave bamboo could participate in the programme.
fences while men do the heavier
World Vision engaged 14,922 refugees, including 1,906 women, in cash-for-work projects to prepare the camps for the monsoon season. Photo: Jon Warren work,” says Hamida. She lost her Cash in hand from her first pay,
husband when violence erupted in Hamida can purchase what she needs
Myanmar in August 2017. Suddenly for her small family. “My children used
CASH, FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS
Cash-for-work projects mitigate monsoon damage Children are better protected from floods and landslides, thanks to bridges and culverts built by their parents. Photo: Himaloy Joseph Mree
Rohingya refugees are at risk of monsoons and cyclones bridges and culverts. By building 1,300 metres of
every year. In 2018, the monsoon season dumped record roadways, we established access to some areas where
rainfall on the camps. UN agencies and NGOs scrambled none existed before. In the end, we exceeded our
to build the infrastructure needed before the annual targets by more than 100 percent, both in terms of the
deluge began. However, storms damaged or washed away number of people reached and projects completed.
refugee’s makeshift shelters. The hilly topography was
prone to frequent landslides. Poorly built roads made World Vision hired 14,922 refugees, including 1,906
movement in the camps difficult. The lack of drainage women, through cash-for-work programmes to do the
systems and adequate bridges and culverts caused construction. Refugees are not formally allowed to work
flooding that completely blocked access to some camps. in the camps, so this opportunity enabled them to earn
Thousands of families were cut off from food supplies and a small amount of cash to better care for their families.
other emergency relief, sometimes for days. Cash-for-work is one of the few mechanisms permitted
in the response that puts money directly in people’s
Following the 2018 monsoon season, the International hands. Earning an income gives refugees decision-making
Organisation for Migration led a disaster-risk reduction power, thereby protecting their dignity. In Year 2 of the
(DRR) assessment to identify lessons learned and map out response, we disbursed USD508,548 to refugees
needed roads, drainage systems and other infrastructure. through our DRR interventions.
WFP provided funding to 10 NGO partners to implement
DRR projects. World Vision received USD1.6 million, the
largest award. We stabilized 23,000 square metres of
landslide-prone slopes to protect families and children.
Our teams constructed 4,100 metres of drainage,
including a kilometre-long canal in Camp 18, as well as 13
30 World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019HOST COMMUNITIES
HOST COMMUNITIES SUPPORT
Bangladeshis’ sacrificial hospitality
Bangladeshi residents in Teknaf and Ukhiya welcomed more World Vision is helping host communities to recover
than 740,000 Rohingya refugees as they surged across the through cash-for-work initiatives and income-generating
border in August 2017. They carried food from their tables activities. With funding from WFP, we hired 2,427 men
onto the streets to feed families who hadn’t eaten for days. and 428 women from host communities as short-term
Although already one of country’s poorest communities, construction workers, disbursing USD99,765 through
they didn’t count the cost of caring. Today some might say cash-for-work initiatives. They renovated 10 schools
they are paying the price. that now double as cyclone shelters, protecting up to
6,000 people.
Following the influx, living conditions deteriorated
significantly for the 500,000 residents in the host More than 1,000 small business owners also received
communities bordering the camps. The proportion of cash grants to develop enterprises such as vegetable
families with a poor or borderline food consumption score production and livestock rearing. More than 3,613
jumped from 31 to 80 percent one year after the influx, people benefitted from skills development and business
driven by rising food costs and falling wages. The percentage training. We also helped 2,600 residents start kitchen
of households living on less than USD60 a month spiked gardens to diversify their families’ diets and generate
from 10 to 22 percent. additional income.
Refugees and host communities now compete for precious World Vision is a recognised, trusted community
natural resources, such as firewood. Makeshift shelters partner in the Cox’s Bazar district, having served here
blanket vast areas of farmland; sewage contaminates local long before the 2017 influx. We recently launched a
fishing streams. Food prices have risen along with the five-year project funded by DFAT to advance
population explosion. Tension and conflict is growing. ultra-poor households, and launched a privately funded
According to a recent study, 79 percent of local residents area programme focused on child well-being. Our goal Shahina, 30, is among of 1,000 local residents who set up a small business with a grant from World Vision. Photo: Himaloy Joseph Mree
surveyed blame the Rohingya for the increased cost of is to integrate support for the refugee community with
living; 53 percent say they have increased crime. our long-term development work in host communities.
Shahina sews and reaps a better living
World Vision hired local residents to renovate this school that doubles as a cyclone shelter for up to 6,000 people. Photo: Md. Shabir Hussain
Shahina’s treadle machine whirs as years ago. Refugees outnumber the make sure her sewing room isn’t
she stitches her latest creation. local population 3:1. flooded during the annual monsoon
“Now I can make beautiful dresses. rains here.
I get orders from my neighbours, Desperate for cash to support their
and they pay me,” she says proudly, families, Rohingya day labourers are Shahina plans to expand
as she feeds orange cotton cloth willing to work for less than the her boutique. If the dozen
under the needle. average daily wage of 500 taka
(about USD6.00). Unemployment is new dresses on display are
Shahina, 30, learned tailoring several on the rise in what was already one any indication, she’s well on
years ago, but without a sewing of the poorest areas in Bangladesh. her way.
machine she couldn’t use her skills
to earn a living. Today, she runs a Shahina is thankful that she doesn’t
successful one-woman workshop, have to depend on the local job
supported with a 20,000 taka market for work now. “With my
(USD240) cash grant from World income from tailoring, I can support
Vision, funded by Aktion my family,” says Shahina, a mother of
Deutschland Hilft. two young children. “I can pay for my
children’s school expenses.”
Shahina is among of 1,000 residents
in Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts A shrewd money manager, Shahina
who received a one-time grant for used some of the cash grant to
income-generating activities. Wages protect her business assets—her
are down and competition for jobs prized sewing machine and bolts of
fierce since 1 million Rohingya cloth. She repaired the brick wall
refugees poured into the area two around her simple tin-roof home to
World Vision Bangladesh | Rohingya Refugee Crisis Report 2019 33You can also read
