Netherlands, IOM sign $7.5m deal to support Rohingya, host community

The Netherlands and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed an agreement of USD 7.5 million to support the Rohingya and host community in Cox’s Bazar.

Under the agreement, The Netherlands will provide the money to the UN’s migration agency IOM for the implementation of the ‘Restoring the Environment and Strengthening Resilience of Rohingya Refugees and Host Communities in Cox’s Bazar’ project.

The project aims to provide multi-sectoral support assistance for the Rohingya refugees and the host communities in the coastal district.

An Exchange of Notes was signed by Chargé d’Affaires Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, and Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali, Officer in Charge of IOM Bangladesh, at the IOM Office in Dhaka on Monday, according to a media statement.

Cox’s Bazar district, currently hosting nearly one million Rohingya refugees since 2017, is prone to natural disasters and climate change impacts.

Refugees and host communities are vulnerable to landslides and floods, particularly during cyclones which can occur annually in Cox’s Bazar.

For this reason, the project seeks to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities.

This integrated approach adopted by the Netherlands and IOM aims to build resilient communities and reduce negative mental health and psychosocial outcomes and increase the community’s capacity in DRR prevention and preparedness as well as their resilience to hazardous events.

It is envisioned that 196,463 people from refugee and host communities will benefit from the project. 18,000 beneficiaries will receive lay counselling by trained community volunteers.

At least 200 volunteers will be trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA), lay counselling, stress management and other MHPSS-related and residence-oriented topics. At least 18 community support groups will be established, involving 180 community members.

The project will also benefit at least 30,000 refugee families (approximately 150,000 people) living in the Balukhali landslide and flood-prone areas (inside the camps) and 3,000 families from the Bangladeshi host communities (approximately 16,410 people) living in the area outside the refugee camps.

“The Rohingya live in congested camps with limited opportunities and complex challenges. Host communities also face issues that increase their vulnerability, including strained resources, limited market access, limited employment opportunities, insufficient infrastructure, and recurring environmental shocks," said Ms. Ghazzali,

Chargé d’Affaires Thijs Woudstra said that increasing community resilience and preparing the community to adequately respond to disasters is key to ensuring a sustainable reduction of disaster risks for refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.

The project will be implemented in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh and other relevant stakeholders.

[email protected]