DHAKA, April 11, 2021 (BSS) – South Korean government has decided to provide emergency support of US$ one million to the International Organization of Migration (IOM) to carry out fire response efforts in Cox’s Bazar.
The fund will contribute to the massive humanitarian endeavours required to respond to a devastating fire that broke out at several Rohingya camps on March 22 last, an IOM press release said today.
“IOM is implementing its emergency response in affected camps in close collaboration with the Bangladesh government, the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG), other UN agencies, international and local NGOs,” the release said.
Moving forward, it said, IOM’s response is focused on both critical life-saving interventions as well as long-term recovery efforts.
Through its interventions, IOM aims to provide safe and dignified living conditions for the affected people by using a participatory site planning approach and environmentally-conscious and sustainable construction, the release added.
“IOM will also focus on the rehabilitation and construction of vital water points, latrines and shower areas, which will ensure that the most basic human rights of the affected population are respected,” it said.
The construction of shelters will employ a community-led approach, which will include the participation of affected families and Cash-for-Work activities related to distributions, porter support and construction works.
New liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders will be provided to replace those that were destroyed in the blaze as well as refills for all the affected families. LPG enables families to be self-reliant and cook for themselves according to their likes and needs, the release said.
Participatory needs assessments will be conducted in the three fire-hit camps to identify vulnerabilities, risks and potential self-reliance activities for all, particularly for women and girls.
Given the fact that most of the refugees’ possessions perished in the fire, IOM will replace their assets according to an ongoing Vulnerability Analysis Mapping.
IOM will be able to continue the provision of essential health services in the affected camps through its health post as well as multiple Mobile Medical Teams.
“We’re extremely grateful for the support received today from the government of the Republic of Korea,” said IOM’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Bangladesh Manuel Marques Pereira.
Pereira said this assistance will be vital for the efforts to rebuild the Rohingya camps from the ground up and to ensure that those most vulnerable have access to crucial services.
Since the latest influx of Rohingya refugees in 2017, South Korea has been extending continuous support to humanitarian organisations to respond to this colossal international humanitarian crisis as well as to assist host communities.
Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. Most of them fled here after the Myanmar army launched a brutal offensive on the ethnic minority in August 2017.