Bangladesh - Multi Sector Needs Assessment: Cox’s Bazar, Rohingya Refugee Response – July 2018

An estimated 723,000 Rohingya refugees have fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state since August 25, 2017. Most of the newly-arrived refugees rely on humanitarian assistance, having left with few possessions and exhausted their financial resources during the journey. The monsoon season began in May and continues into September, threatening the vast majority of refugees living in makeshift shelters and settlements highly vulnerable to floods and landsides. To understand the priority needs of the refugees, a Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA), comissioned by UNHCR and with technical support from REACH, was conducted at the household level in 31 refugee sites (3,171 households were surveyed). Translators Without Borders supported in questionnaire translation and enumerator training. This survey identified a number of areas where the basic needs of Rohingya refugees are being met. At the same time, this assessment has identified continuing service gaps in the Rohingya response. For example, the majority of households do not believe there is enough light at night to safely access latrines, and WASH facilities are generally perceived as dangerous areas for girls under age 18. In terms of access to protection services, only a small number of households report members making use of children and women friendly spaces. Despite widespread distribution coverage of key non-food items such as kitchen sets, demand for these items remains high, and refugees are spending the greatest portion of their limited financial resources on basic items including food, clothing and fuel. Findings suggest that there are uncertainties around actions to prepare for cyclones. The mahjis remain almost the sole focal point for communication and complaints with refugees, reflecting their continued prominent position within refugee communities. Finally, the median household debt is twice the median household income for the 30 days prior to data collection, with only two-fifths of households reporting any source of income at all.