ReliefWeb

Highlights

• As part of the UNCT Joint Programme of assistance being developed for Rohingya refugees for 2017-2018, UNICEF requires US$20.7 million for this period. For the immediate response in 2017, UNICEF is seeking US$9.45 million to cover the needs of affected children and their families. So far, US$3.2 million have been received leaving a funding gap of 34%.

• Sector based coordination architecture for Rohingyas, based on the cluster approach principles, is proposed by UNCT and supported by humanitarian partners. UNICEF will lead sectoral coordination in Nutrition, Child Protection and co-lead in Education with Save the Children.

• 149 unaccompanied and separated children initially identified; 10 children have been reunited with their families; 4,603 children aged 4-14 years out of the UNICEF targeted 20,979 have access to quality pre-primary and basic education.

• 16,492 children out of the UNICEF targeted 41,072 from both Rohingyas and host communities were screened for malnutrition; 139 SAM cases referred for treatment; 3,159 pregnant and lactating women received Infant and Young Child Feeding counselling; 5,395 children received Multiple Micronutrient Powder supplementation.

• 110 water points are being installed/rehabilitated; 15,000 Water Purification Tablets distributed to 7,500 people; 3,064 children Under-Five (U5) out of the UNICEF targeted 8,800 received pneumonia and diarrhea treatment; 180 Rohingya religious leaders trained on the importance of education and hygiene issues.

Situation

358,602
of children affected (target for 2017-2018)

708,743
of people affected (UNICEF projection according to interagency SitReps, MIRA and BBS census 2011)

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

With an approximately 271 km long border with Myanmar, Bangladesh has been experiencing an influx of refugees from Myanmar for nearly 40 years. Around 300,000-500,000 Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UMN), more commonly known as Rohingyas in Bangladesh, reside in the country. Only 32,000 UMN are registered as refugees and live in official camps recognized by the Government. Around 60,000 UMN live in the makeshift settlements adjacent to official camps and the rest of Rohingyas are integrated with the Bangladeshi population.

As a result of increasing violence in Myanmar since October 2016, an estimated 74,000 Rohingyas, of whom 57 percent are children (49 per cent male and 51 per cent female), have recently arrived in Cox’s Bazar District. Nearly 3.3 per cent of the newly arrived are reportedly unaccompanied minors (UAM) who are at risk of being forced into child marriage, exploitation and labour. Access to water, sanitation and hygiene is limited as WASH facilities are over-stretched and inadequate. This new influx of refugees not only aggravates the pre-existing situation of Rohingya in Bangladesh, but also puts additional pressure on the already fragile social and economic structure of Cox’s Bazar, one of the worst performing districts on almost all child-related indicators and one of the most vulnerable districts to disasters and climate change in the country. In particular, vulnerability of the affected population is likely to aggravate in WASH and Health sectors during the ensuing cyclone season. UNICEF seeks US$20.7 million to provide Child Protection, Education, Nutrition, WASH and Health support to 358,602 children for two years through direct interventions and by strengthening local governance systems. The response includes lifesaving needs for the new influx, recovery support and medium-term development activities.