Thousands. Hundreds of thousands. Over half a million. Women, children and men.
Since August last year, 688,000 people from Rakhine State in Myanmar have taken refuge in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. From violence, destruction, poverty and death. In Bangladesh they would find safe refuge. Or so they hoped.
688,000 people.
On many a day, there are still up to 3,000 people who still cross the border, driven by the same fears and the same hopes.
So far about a million people have now reached the camp in Cox's Bazar. This camp is bigger than anyone can imagine.
The future of a whole generation of children hangs in the balance
The 688,000 displaced people include 380,000 children under 18. The UNHCR estimates that about 7,600 children are separated from their families and are trying to survive on their own.
Life in the refugee camps in Bangladesh is unimaginably hard. For everyone. Yet the children and teenagers are especially vulnerable. They do not know how to process the violence they have experienced or witnessed. They are exposed to malnutrition and illnesses; they are deprived of any opportunities for education and training; they are trafficked and exploited; the girls are forced into marriage.
So the Swiss Red Cross is there, helping out. In partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies
254,000 people provided with materials to build emergency shelters
105,400 food parcels distributed
76,300 people treated in the field hospital
58,000 people given psychosocial counselling
Immediately deployed
Straight after the crisis started in October 2017, the Swiss Red Cross deployed its emergency response unit. A group of 21 delegates travelled out to Bangladesh from October to December. Sabine Hediger, a healthcare specialist was among them, helping to set up the Red Cross field hospital in Cox's Bazar, on her second mission in Bangladesh.
In partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies we have so far treated 76,300 people in the Red Cross field hospital. As many as 58,000 people have received psychosocial counselling.
Apart from the work in the hospital, our volunteers in Cox's Bazar have provided 254,000 people with emergency relief kits, including materials to build shelters, blankets, mosquito nets, and hygiene kits. They have distributed 105,000 food parcels and more than 400,000 litres of drinking water. We have allocated CHF 376,000 to the relief work in Cox's Bazar.
No end in sight
The field hospital will continue to operate until we have found an alternative. We currently expect to be there until at least May. But it might even take until the end of this year. The need for funds is consequently high, but depends on the scheduling of the upcoming stages. The refugees' circumstances are still difficult and uncertain. And the rainy season will soon be upon us.
Alongside our relief operations we are working on a longer-term commitment. Together with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and other partners we are building three multi-purpose centres where women and children in particular can receive protection, advice and medical assistance. The Red Cross tracing service will also be present to help families locate missing relatives.
Since malnutrition is a major problem, we are working hand in hand with Action Contre La Faim. This NGO systematically screens children for malnutrition and provides food supplements when needed. Another important partner is the health ministry, which wants to offer medical services in the centres.
With support from Swiss Solidarity, we are also building urgently needed sanitary facilities in the camps to improve the hygiene conditions.
