Assisting refugees as well as host communities

Since the influx of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh in August 2017, NGOs have been working hard to help them. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been present in Cox’s Bazar district since 2010, and works with both refugees and host communities.

By Cristina Thevenot, Head of Operations in Asia.

Teknaf area was already vulnerable before the arrival of more than 700,000 refugees since August 2017. The area is vulnerable to floods, cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis… These climatic risks necessarily have consequences on the level of food security of the populations living in this region. Their water resources are also limited, and the increasing influx of refugees into the region only increases the pressure on these resources.

Through the different waves of refugees, host communities have always been at the forefront of welcoming their neighbours. Despite difficulties such as language barrier and the pressure on natural resources, they have always volunteered to help refugees out of pure solidarity.

A community approach…

The vulnerability of populations initially present in Teknaf area is the reason why SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL teams work with both host communities and refugees. They help both populations, whether in terms of access to water, sanitation, etc.

In addition, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL sets up protection activities for both populations, which consist in identifying, referring and following up vulnerable people, victims of violence or people affected by illness. Of course, the vulnerability of refugees is exacerbated, but that of host communities is still existent.

… to promote inclusion

Our teams also try to promote cohesion between the two communities, for example by organizing community sporting or socio-cultural events. They also ensure that information shared with one community is known by the other, in order to avoid any risk of misunderstanding.

Furthermore, when we set up water management committees, for example, representatives of the two communities are included, not only to ensure better water management, but also to promote dialogue between the two communities.

All these subtleties are necessary to ensure good relations between refugees and their hosts.