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Background
Since 25 August 2017, extreme violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, has driven an estimated 693,000 Rohingya refugees across the border into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. There are now a total of 883 868 Forcibly Displaced Myanmar National (FDMN) in Bangladesh. Generations of statelessness imposed vulnerabilities on these people even before the severe traumas of this most recent crisis. The people and Government of Bangladesh welcomed them with resounding generosity and open borders. The speed and scale of the influx was nonetheless a challenge, and the humanitarian community stepped up its support to help mitigate a critical humanitarian emergency. The humanitarian response is also designed to mitigate impacts on the Bangladeshi communities most directly affected by the influx and improve their ability to cope with the strains of hosting nearly a million people. Months later, refugees remain forced to rely upon humanitarian assistance for their basic needs. They live in congested sites that are ill-equipped to handle the early rains, monsoon and cyclone seasons. Many refugees have expressed anxiety about their future in light of media reports of discussions on returns, explaining that they would not agree to return until questions of citizenship, legal rights, access to services, justice and restitution are addressed.
Humanitarian crises affect each person differently depending on their gender, age, disability and other personal characteristics. Older people and people with disabilities are often overlooked in humanitarian relief and response and they may find it harder than others to access the assistance and protection they need. YPSA has been ensuring different development activities through greater Chattogram since 1985. YPSA has been implementing different Social development activities in Cox’s Bazar since 2008. YPSA is also implementing a project named “Integrated Humanitarian Response to the needs of older men and women amongst Forcibly Displaced Myanmar National (FDMN)” making Age Friendly Spaces (AFS) to provide Primary Health, WASH, Protection, Advocacy & Capacity Building, Livelihood and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Management of Older People under the cooperation and technical support of HelpAge International, Bangladesh (HAIBD), Fund managed by UNOPS and Funded by UK aid. The target group of the project is Older People of Rohingya and Host Community (Aged 50 +) and the purpose of the project is “: Improved access to the life saving and life- improving integrated humanitarian services for older men and women and their families amongst the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar National (FDMN)” and Host Community.
Target Group : Older People (Aged 50 and above)
Working Area : Camp and Host Community
Target Population : (Camp: 10,051; Host: 1000)
Project Started : 15 October, 2017
Funded By : HelpAge International, Bangladesh (UK aid)
Fund Managed By : UNOPS
Project Working Area (YPSA):
- Camp -11- For Rohingya Community (AFS-03)
- Camp-11-For Rohingya Community (AFS-02)
- Camp-13-For Rohingya Community (AFS-05)
- Rahmaterbil (Male)-For Host Community (AFS-08)
- Rahmaterbil (Female)-For Host Community (AFS-10)
Some key top line findings:
- 72% of older people indicated that they are responsible for caring for family members or others
- 78% of older women and 71% of older men with a disability reported feeling unsafe
- 90% of older people reported being ill or requiring some kind of medical assistance
- 74% of older people reported physical constraints to accessing health services
- 80% of older people reported multiple chronic conditions and Non-Communicable Diseases
- 74% of older people reported diarrheal disease as a major health concern but 42% reported unsatisfactory access to hand washing facilities and 61% reported unsatisfactory access to latrines. Physical access and privacy were major concerns for both latrine and bathing shelter access
- 3 of the 6 Washington Group questions on disability were asked and 35% of respondents reported difficulty walking, 50% reported using or needing a walking stick. Nationally in Bangladesh it is estimated that at least 40% of older people are living a disability and it is expected that this figure is higher amongst the Rohingya community.
Source: HelpAge International, Bangladesh
Major Activities of the Project:
Health Service:
- Primary Health Service with Medicine at Age Friendly Space (AFS)
- Primary Health Service with Medicine at Outreach level
- Home based Care Services for Disable Older People
- Psychosocial Counseling and Family Counseling
- Physiotherapeutic Support
- Torture Victim Treatment and Support
- Caregiver Support to Older People
- Assistive Products Distribution
- Diabetics Test and Nebulizing Facility
- ORT Corner
- Health/ Eye Camp for Older People
- Referral (Secondary & Tertiary)
WASH Service:
- Hygiene Awareness Session
- Hygiene Materials Distribution during Hygiene Sessions
- Pure Drinking Water Facility at Age Friendly Space (AFS)
- Age Friendly Latrine and Washing Point Demonstration at Age Friendly Space (AFS)
- Advocacy with WASH Service Providers to setup Age Friendly Latrine and Washing Point
- Linkage with WASH Service Providers to ensure WASH related needs of Older People like Latrine dislodge, Tube-well maintenance, Bathing Cubicle repair, Washing point establishment, etc.
- Shelter closed Age Friendly Latrine Installation for Severely ill and Disable Older People in Camp level
Protection Service:
- Protection Awareness Session
- Case Management for Older People
- Recreation Activities
- Age Friendly Kits/Cloths Distribution
- Child Corner
- Linkage with Protection Service Providers to ensure Protection related needs of Older People like Shelter materials demand, Food Card problem, Registration Card Problem, etc.
Advocacy and Capacity Building:
- Training on DRR
- Training on Diabetics Awareness
- Day Observation
- Awareness on CD and NCD
- Different Committee formation (AFS Management Committee, WASH Committee, Protection Group) and Meeting
Livelihood – Different Kinds distribution as IGA
SAM Management of Older People:
- MUAC Screening of Older People
- RUTF Distribution to the Older People
Types of activities of the Project:
- AFS based Service
- Outdoor based Service
- Household based Service
Major achievement:
- Data collected of 11,051 older peoples (With Washington Question Short Set)
- Staff Recruited
- Training provided to staff
- 08 Volunteer recruited from Rohingya Community
- 60 OP representative recruited from Rohingya Community
- 5 Age Friendly Spaces (AFS) setup and functioning (FDMN: 03; Host: 02)
- Nebulizing services
- Diabetic test
- Physiotherapeutic support
- 500 latrines upgraded as age friendly and 18 age friendly latrines installed
- Hygiene Materials distribution to 10,551 Older People
- Cloth distributed to 5,361 Older People
- Cash grant distribution 600 Older People
- IGA Materials distribution 311 Older People
- 102 Older People received RUTF under SAM Management
- Organize Eye Camp and Health Camp- 1200 Older People
- Distribute Age Friendly KITs (Prayer mat, Solar torchlight, Umbrella, Stick, Sandal, Commode chair, Urine pot, Medicine box, etc.) – 7,687 Older People
- Provide Free Primary Medicine
- Recreational Activity
- Child Corner – 05 (Specially the Child who usually come with Older People)
- Photi Pather Ashar/ “Jarigan”
- Awareness Session on different Issues
- International Women Day’2020 Celebration
- International Day of Person with Disabilities’2019 Celebration
Destination of the project:
- Reduced mortality and morbidity amongst older men and women of the refugee population through increased access to integrated health services
- Exposure of older men and women to communicable diseases is reduced by provision of access to safe, appropriate and dignified WASH services at AFS
- Older men and women have access to safe and dignified spaces in which to access to Protection services and recreational activities via AFS and Community Based Protection services
- Both government and nongovernmental humanitarian actors have knowledge, capacity and willingness to provide inclusive services for older men and women
Response in Corona Virus (COVID-19) in both FDMN and Host Community at Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar:
YPSA-Young Power in Social Action is operating five (05) Age Friendly Space (AFS) in Camp-11 (Balukhali-02), 13 (Burmapara) and host community (Rahmaterbil, Palongkhali union, Ukhiya) since March’2018 under the project named “Integrated Humanitarian Response to the Needs of Older Men and Women” supported by HelpAge International, Bangladesh; Funded by UK aid and Fund managed by UNOPS. YPSA has taken some robust activities regarding corona virus (Covid-19) awareness to minimize spread of corona virus (Covid-19) to the beneficiaries both in the camp and host community. The ongoing activities are:
- Social distancing at AFS
- Hand Washing Point installment in front of AFS
- Cleanness of Washing Point, latrine and floor of the AFS
- Cleanness of the surface of every furniture and devices
- Awareness Sessions
- Ensure Personal Protective Equipments (PPE)
- Separate Space to operate COVID-19 suspected at AFS
- Hygiene/Sanitary kits distribution
- Training Session
- Staff meetings on corona virus (Covid-19)
- Audio massages on corona virus (Covid-19) at AFS
Social distancing at AFS:
Social distancing is maintaining very strictly at AFS level. Gathering of beneficiaries at AFS is terminated fully. Maximum five (05) beneficiaries can enter at AFS and sit on the five (05) chairs which are distributed in the waiting space maintaining social distancing. Every beneficiary gets mask and receives their services by one to one process. Besides every staffs are maintaining social distancing and using protective equipments.
Hand Washing Point installment in front of AFS:
Hand washing point was installed in front of every AFS. Every staffs, beneficiaries and visitors must wash their hands using these hand-washing points. Hand sanitizers were available also beside every hand-washing point. This initiative can reduce the prompt spread of corona virus (Covid-19).
Cleanness of Washing Point, latrine and floor of the AFS:
Washing Point, latrine and floor of the AFS are cleaned everyday by detergent and liquid chlorine. It is very necessary to reduce the prompt spread of corona virus (Covid-19).
Cleanness of the surface of every furniture and devices:
Surface of every furniture and devices of AFS are cleaned by liquid chlorine. It is mandatory to reduce the prompt spread of corona virus (Covid-19).
Awareness Sessions:
Awareness sessions were conducted two times daily (9:300 AM and 11:30 AM). Seventy sessions were conducted to 1457 older people (Male: 824 and Female: 633) to aware them on corona virus (Covid-19) focusing panic reduction and minimize spread.
Ensure Personal Protective Equipments (PPE):
Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) was ensured to the staffs and the beneficiaries who were coming to the facility. The following equipments were provided to the Age Friendly Spaces:
- Medical Gaown: 35 Pieces
- Regular Gaown : 1900 Pieces
- Disposable Gaown: 75 Pieces
- Mask: 6500 Pieces
- N95 Mask: 150 Pieces
- Hand Cover: 1000 Pieces
- Goggles: 100 Pieces
- Thermometer: 10 Pieces
- Shoe Cover: 300 Pieces
- Alcohol Pad: 80 Boxes
- Hand Gloves: 67 Boxes
- Hand Sanitizer (Small): 204 Bottles
- Hands wash Jar (5 liters): 6 gallons
Separate Space to operate COVID-19 suspected at AFS:
A space was separated at AFS to operate COVID-19 suspected. Suspected COVID-19 are staying here to refer them specific service provide following referral pathway.
Hygiene/Sanitary kits distribution:
10340 hand wash and 8000 kgs. Detergent powders were collected from local market to distribute to the beneficiaries regarding corona virus (Covid-19) awareness. We distributed Hygiene/Sanitary kits to 10,551 beneficiaries (Male: 5539 and Female: 5192) in both FDMN and Host Community.
Training Session:
Two training sessions were conducted regarding corona virus (Covid-19) awareness to the beneficiaries where 51 male and 33 female older people were participated who will make a breeze to the community.
Staff meetings on corona virus (Covid-19):
Nine (09) staffs meeting were conducted regarding corona virus (Covid-19) awareness. Total 121 staffs were participated including volunteers where 66 were males and 55 were males. They are making awareness to the beneficiaries and community people.
Audio massages on corona virus (Covid-19) at AFS:
Daily audio massages on corona virus (Covid-19) at AFS is continue to aware the beneficiaries who are coming AFS daily. It is a fruitful initiative to aware community people regarding corona virus (Covid-19).
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