Oxfam disaster report: stepping up efforts in Bangladesh

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are now threatened by another disaster as the monsoon is expected to hit the country, causing floods, landslides and an increased risk of deadly diseases.

The first rains that have now started to fall provide an alarming glimpse of what to expect when the monsoon season hits in full force at the end of May. Oxfam is now stepping up its work to help families prepare for the coming storms by empowering people with better hygiene and safe sanitation solutions, as well as large-scale clean water distribution.

"We used to have to go far away in the forest to go to the toilet. At night I would go with my friends but I was afraid. Now we have a clean latrine next to our house and I am not afraid anymore," says Abul, a refugee in Bangladesh.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since violence broke out in Myanmar in August. The large influx of refugees has made it difficult for humanitarian efforts to keep up, and the overcrowded refugee camps lack clean water, food and toilets. The UN warns that 100,000-150,000 Rohingya are living in makeshift homes made of bamboo and tarpaulins in areas prone to flooding and mudslides.

Conditions are difficult

Unstable tents, makeshift shelters on steep slopes, flooded latrines and dirty water are the daily reality for the Rohingya in the refugee camps. It is therefore feared that the monsoon will have devastating consequences when it arrives. The rains and storms could cause widespread and deadly destruction in the camps, where people could once again be forced to flee and their access to emergency assistance could be drastically reduced - a major disease outbreak is almost inevitable.

Oxfam staff on the ground in Bangladesh tell us how the rains, which began last week, have already started to cause problems. Although it only rained for an hour at the time, it caused cars carrying aid to get stuck, flooding and damage to refugees' homes. From June to September, days of constant rain are expected, with up to 2.5 meters of rain falling in just three months.

"Women I met last week are very worried about how their homes will cope as the monsoon rains and winds pick up. They said some people had already started to move to live with friends in areas of the camps that felt safer," says Oxfam's Dorothy Sang, who works in the refugee crisis in Bangladesh. She explains that heavy rains can quickly turn low-lying Rohingya camps into flooded, unhealthy swamps that are likely to lead to outbreaks of deadly waterborne diseases.

"Refugees in risk areas must have access to safe and viable relocation options. There are deep concerns that floods and landslides will prevent the distribution of clean drinking water and other emergency assistance to vulnerable people, which could have deadly consequences for pregnant women, elderly people, people with disabilities and children," Sang continues.

Preparing for disaster: Oxfam's response

Since September, Oxfam has helped 240,000 people in Bangladesh. Our priority now is to help Rohingya people ahead of the coming monsoon season. We're working to prevent latrine waste from leaking and stockpiling emergency equipment such as water pumps and toilets in case storms destroy water systems. We provide people with clean water and hygiene items to prevent the spread of disease. We also work to prevent and counter the spread of disease through public health promotion activities, working with local partners and refugees themselves to disseminate information on hand washing, toilet cleaning and health.

• We provide 25,500 people in Unchiprang camp with 180,000 liters of water a day. From our water treatment plant in Nayapara camp, people receive 110,000 liters a day.
• We have emptied and repaired hundreds of latrines and installed 80 shower cabins for women in Balukhali and Unchiprang camps. We are also testing a new type of toilet in Kutupalong camp, specially designed for flood areas.
• We have distributed close to 10,000 hygiene kits so far and have recruited more than 300 volunteers in the camps to spread information about safe drinking water, latrine cleaning, food hygiene, hand washing and the risk of diphtheria.

You can help

Every week, hundreds of Rohingya continue to arrive in Bangladesh to join the hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in crowded and unsanitary conditions. More aid is needed to support the Rohingya and to prepare as well as possible for the deadly monsoon.