Reports

In Bangladesh many individuals migrate from their home villages for work. When the public holiday and mobility restrictions went into effect on 26 March 2020, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, many of these individuals returned to their districts of origin. Under the European Union funded Regional Evidence for Migration Analysis and Policy (REMAP) project, IOM activated mobility tracking in Bangladesh in 2019 to increase understanding of mobile population categories and types of mobility at the union level and mobility patterns at the village level. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, based on the IOM global mobility tracking methodology, IOM launched a mobility tracking observation exercise with key informants (MTO-KI) in 29 districts across the country. The exercise is usually done in the communities but considering the current operating climate, a phone-based data collection method was adopted instead.

The 855,000 Rohingya Refugees currently residing in 34 makeshift camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh are highly vulnerable to COVID-19. Lessons learned from previous epidemic responses, such as the response to Ebola across affected African countries, highlight the critical role perceptions have on health seeking behaviour, trust in humanitarian responders and the willingness of affected communities to comply with public health measures. Among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, distrust and lack of confidence in the medical system of the response is widespread. The implications of this on the effectiveness of any COVID-19 response cannot be overstated or ignored. The perception that the Rohingya have of the health system in the camps is their reality and is highly informed by their culture, history, and their understanding of sickness and health. Therefore, if the perceptions and opinions of Rohingya on healthcare are not taken properly into account and if community awareness and engagement are not prioritized as a key pillar of the COVID-19 response, lessons indicate that the capacity of response actors to control the outbreak will be severely hindered. The purpose of this thematic report on health behaviours is to support humanitarian responders in understanding the current perceptions of healthcare, the impact of these perceptions on health seeking behaviour and the direct implications these perceptions and behaviours have on the ability to respond to, and control, a COVID-19 outbreak in the Rohingya refugee camps.

The Site Management sector, with the support of SM partners (IOM, UNHCR, ADRA and Solidarités International) conducted a mapping exercise during the months of April and May 2018 in the areas of Teknaf upazila currently hosting Rohingya refugees. The purpose of the exercise was to identify and map the boundaries of local paras, namely group of houses. In these areas Rohingya refugees live very close to Bangladeshi host communities. Para Development Committees (PDC), a governance system that encourage the participation of representatives of both Bangladeshi and Rohingya communities, have recently been established with the support of SM partners. The mapping exercise aimed to better define the areas of responsibility of the newly established PDC, and to support RRRC’s CiCs in the process of defining the new camp boundaries in Teknaf. 

The Site Management sector, with the support of SM partners (IOM, UNHCR, ADRA and Solidarités International) conducted a mapping exercise during the months of April and May 2018 in the  areas of Teknaf upazila currently hosting Rohingya refugees. The purpose of the exercise was to identify and map the boundaries of local paras, namely group of houses. The mapping exercise aimed to better define the areas of responsibility of the newly established Para Development Commitees, and to support  RRRC’s CiCs in the process of defining the new camp boundaries in Teknaf.  IOM Needs and Population Monitoring (NPM) provided technical support to better identify the para names and demarcation. The para mapping exercise was conducted in two rounds. The first exercise took place from 1 to 3 of April 2018 in the areas of Alikhali, Leda, Nayapara, Muchoni, Jadimura and Domdumia. A second exercise took place on 21 and 22 April 2018 covering the areas of Hakimpara, Jamtoli, Putibonia, Shamlapur and Unchiprang. These maps show both para and majhee blocks boundaries in Teknaf camps, as the two systems are currenly in place and overlapping. The maps are based on the majhee blocks boundaries updated during NPM Baseline 11 (14 June) and on updated NPM drone imagery (21 June).

The following document includes 12 thematic maps with information on the following topics: Population density, Cooking fuel source, Education barriers for girls, Access to health facilities, Income source, Most severe needs, NFI distribution, Primary safety concern, Sheleter types, Community areas cleanliness, Source of drinking water, and Access to drinking water​.

In the assessment conducted between 1 and 20 May 2018, an estimated 915,000 individuals (approximately 215,000 households) were identified in 1,922 locations. Of these, 85% were living in collective sites, 13% in collective sites with host communities, and 2% in dispersed sites in host communities. Of the total population, 33,956 were registered refugees who live in the only two formal refugee camps (Kutupalong and Nayapara refugee camps), accounting for 4% of the total identified refugee population. The remaining 881,000 were unregistered refugees who live in all locations including the formal refugee camps.

The traffic lights diagram is based on the results of a multi-sector prioritisation tool developed by the Analysis Hub. The tool uses NPM data from five sectors to prioritise needs geographically, at the block level. 

The majhee block system represents an important aspect of communities within collective and/or camp-like settings where Rohinya refugees have settled. A majhee is a community leader, belonging to the Rohingya refugee population and a block is the portion of a settlement for which he/she is responsible. Majhees tend to be used as a focal point to deliver services in each block. The IOM Needs and Population Monitoring (NPM) data collection system relies on majhee blocks as main unit of reference, and on majhees as main Key Informants (KIs). With accurate information about majhee blocks extents, we can gain more detailed insight regarding population counts, number of households, and an overall better understanding of needs within each community.

In the assessment conducted between 7 and 25 March 2018, an estimated 898,000 individuals (approximately 211,000 households) were identified in 1,807 locations. Of these, 81% were living in collective sites, 14% in collective sites with host communities, and 5% in dispersed sites in host communities. Of the total population, 33,784 were registered refugees who live in the only two formal refugee camps (Kutupalong and Nayapara refugee camps), counting for less than 4% of the total identified refugee population. The remaining 865,000 were unregistered refugees who live in all locations including the formal refugee camps.

IOM Bangladesh Needs and Population Monitoring (NPM) regularly and systematically captures and disseminates information regarding the movements and evolving needs of populations on the move, whether on site or en route. NPM’s site assessment rounds capture the numbers, locations and key sectoral needs of Rohingya refugees in the areas affected by the influx since 25 August 2017. Data are collected through key informant interviews and direct observation.

Following an outbreak of violence on 25 August 2017 in Rakhine State, Myanmar, a new massive influx of Rohingya refugees to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh started in late August 2017. Most of the Rohingya refugees settled in Ukhia and Teknaf Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar, a district bordering Myanmar identified as the main entry area for border crossings. The following document provides an overview of the sites assessed.

  From 11 November to 7 December, 1,635 locations in collective sites and host communities were assessed by NPM enumerators. These locations are located within two formal refugee camps, three makeshift settlements established before the August 2017 influx, thirty-three new spontaneous settlements both around and separate from the refugee camps and makeshift settlements, and 65 locations where Rohingya were identified living in host communities. In total, an estimated 866,000 individuals (in 194,603 households) are living in these 1,635 locations. Of these, 16.27% are single mothers, 4.54 live with a serious medical condition, and 4.16% are older persons at risk.