Anticipating that about 2,00,000 Rohingya refugees may again turn homeless during Bangladesh’s monsoon, the UNHCR has trained “thousands of volunteer[s]” to mitigate the challenges, a UNHCR release noted.
Since April, the UNHCR, with Bangladesh’s biggest non-governmental organisation BRAC, has trained more than 20,000 ‘community outreach members’ (COMs) on emergency preparedness. But with the onset of monsoon, at least two lakh — out of the 9,00,000 refugees settled in Cox’s Bazar — will face fresh challenges to survive.
Empowering them
“As heavy rains and strong monsoon winds approach, it is critical that we stand firmly with the Rohingya refugees we serve,” said Kevin J. Allen, UNHCR Head of Operations in Cox’s Bazar.
“It is equally important that we empower and train refugees to play their role in the response, working hand-in-hand with the national authorities, sister UN agencies and civil society.”
The members at present receive training on basic awareness, landslide risk mitigation, first aid and weather hazard management, the UNHCR release noted. “They are now helping families understand how they can stay safer, where they can go to get help and what they should do in the event of an emergency. Having also received Psychological First Aid training, the COMs can also help to allay people’s worries, as well identify those in particular distress who might need referrals to other health service providers and expert help,” the release noted.
The UNHCR and its partners have also distributed more than 82,000 upgraded shelter kits, which provide families with sturdier and more waterproof shelters. The UN said they are distributing 80,000 pre-monsoon “tie-down” kits to help families to anchor their shelters firmly when strong winds start to approach.
