Search Results (47)

Background: The Rohingya refugee crisis is one of the largest humanitarian emergencies of the 21st century, with nearly one million Rohingya residing in overcrowded camps in southern Bangladesh. Women and children face the greatest vulnerabilities, including inadequate access to education and healthcare, which exacerbates their risks and limits opportunities for personal and community development. While international organizations continue to provide aid, resources remain insufficient, particularly in maternal and child healthcare, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable interventions. Objectives: The Hope Foundation for Women and Children in Bangladesh launched a pilot project for the Health Assistant Training (HAT) program to address critical gaps in healthcare and education for the Rohingya community. This nine-month training program equips young Rohingya women with essential knowledge and skills to support maternal health services in both clinical and community settings. Design: We conducted a qualitative evaluation of the HAT Program to explore its acceptance and anticipated benefits for both participants and the community. Methods: The research team used semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and field observations to explore the HAT Program’s impact on young Rohingya women and their community. They analyzed data through thematic analysis, developing a coding framework and identifying key themes to uncover patterns and insights. Results: The results were categorized into four themes: (1) community acceptance of the HAT Program, (2) the HAT Program’s impact on the health assistant trainees, (3) the impact of the HAT Program on the community, and (4) the potential ways to expand the HAT Program. Conclusions: This research underscores the program’s impact on improving healthcare access, enhancing women’s empowerment, and promoting community resilience. By situating this initiative within the broader context of refugee health, education, and capacity-building, this research highlights the HAT program’s potential as a replicable model in Bangladesh and in other humanitarian settings. Full article

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a critical determinant of maternal and neonatal health, yet its patterns and consequences in displaced populations remain understudied. This study examined the association between GWG and birth outcomes among Forcibly Displaced Rohingya (FDR) women in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study from October 2022 to October 2024, enrolling 2888 pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy. Among them, 301 were recruited in the first trimester and followed through the third trimester, with 231 neonatal outcomes recorded within 72 hours of delivery. Overall, 66.8% of women experienced inadequate GWG. Despite the high prevalence of inadequate GWG, mean birth weight (2.79 kg) and mean gestational age at delivery (38.6 weeks) were within favorable ranges. Inadequate GWG was more common in mothers aged 30–39 years (p = 0.061) but significantly less common in underweight mothers (p = 0.012). GWG was positively associated with neonatal birth weight, length, and weight–length ratio (WLR) Z score, but not with gestational age. After adjusting for confounding factors, inadequate GWG showed a significant independent association with lower birth length (p = 0.016). These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in displaced populations. Full article

This paper examines the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, experiences, service access, and unmet needs of Rohingya adolescent refugee girls living in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The refugee population in these camps is approximately 1.3 million, with more than half under the age of 18 and girls representing over one quarter of the total. Given the growing proportion of adolescent girls, SRH knowledge and service provision are critical both for the refugee community and for Bangladesh’s broader sustainable development goals. Drawing on direct accounts from adolescent girls and insights from community-based key informants, this research explores levels of SRH awareness, willingness to seek care, encounters with sexual violence, understanding of sexually transmitted diseases, and reproductive health priorities. It also identifies barriers to service delivery faced by healthcare and humanitarian providers. The findings highlight how cultural norms, social constraints, and religious beliefs intersect with structural barriers—including lack of education, financial dependence, gender-based violence, and the need for parental or spousal consent—to restrict access to SRH services. Despite these challenges, some participants reported successfully receiving reproductive health care. This paper calls for coordinated action from the government, humanitarian agencies, and social service organisations to improve both the availability and accessibility of SRH services for adolescent refugee girls. Strategies should include enhanced outreach, culturally responsive engagement, and sustained follow-up care to promote safety, dignity, and well-being within the camps. Full article

The rapid expansion of refugee settlements has caused significant environmental changes, particularly in regions experiencing forced displacement. The Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, has led to extensive deforestation and land transformation, affecting local climate conditions. While urbanization’s impact on land surface temperature (LST) is well-documented, the environmental consequences of unplanned refugee settlements remain understudied. This study investigates land cover changes and LST dynamics from 2013 to 2024, offering a novel perspective on refugee-induced environmental changes. Using Landsat 8 imagery, four key land cover categories (built-up, mixed forest, water bodies, and barren land) were classified through a Support Vector Machine (SVM) approach. The temporal change in these key land cover categories was examined. The surface temperature product (Band 10) from Landsat 8 Collection 2 Level 2 (C2 L2) was applied to derive LST, while Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) were used to assess vegetation and urbanization trends. Findings reveal a 97% decline in forest cover and a 161.78% increase in built-up areas between 2013 and 2018, leading to substantial LST increases. Statistical analyses confirm strong correlations between LST and multispectral indices, with vegetation and water bodies acting as cooling agents, while urban areas amplify heat stress. This study underscores the urgent need for sustainable land management and reforestation efforts to mitigate environmental degradation. It also highlights the importance of global cooperation in balancing humanitarian needs with environmental sustainability, providing insights for policymakers and urban planners to enhance climate resilience in vulnerable regions. Full article

Background: Food security and access to healthcare are crucial determinants of health, but their impact on chronic disease risk among forcibly displaced populations is understudied. This study delves into the relationship between food security, accessibility to healthcare services, and chronic disease risk among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Methods: Drawing from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey, this research investigates how the availability of food, accessibility to healthcare facilities, and utilization of services impact the likelihood of chronic diseases within this marginalized population. Using a cross-sectional survey collated from the UNHCR 2020 Joint Multi-Sector Needs Assessment survey, we deployed a series of multivariate logistic regression models to examine the relationship between food security, healthcare proximity, chronic disease, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Food security significantly decreased the risk of chronic diseases (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.98). Living far from healthcare facilities increased the risk (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.54). Conclusion: This study’s findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing food security and improving healthcare accessibility to alleviate the burden of chronic diseases among Rohingya refugees. By identifying key social determinants and barriers to healthcare access, this research equips policymakers with evidence-based strategies to design targeted interventions that improve nutrition, healthcare delivery, and chronic disease management for displaced populations. Full article

The Rohingya crisis has been a significant issue for national and international news media, capturing their attention for an extended period and documenting various phases of the crisis. Previous research exploring the tones and portrayal of the Rohingyas in the news lacks comparative and temporal analysis of news sentiments. In this study, we aim to fill this gap by analyzing 8074 news stories on Rohingya issues published in 10 news media outlets from 10 countries between 2009 and 2023. Our computational sentiment analysis reveals that Rohingya-related news sentiments are predominantly negative and fluctuate over the years across different countries, showing little identifiable patterns. An ANOVA suggests significant variation in news sentiments among countries, with some countries exhibiting more similar sentiments than others, thus creating distinguishable groups. Some of our findings contradict previous scholarships, warranting further research and novel frameworks. Additionally, we encourage scrutiny of academic insights to address potential biases against news media’s journalistic integrity. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the critical issue of water insecurity and its multifaceted impact on and relationship to the human rights and environmental justice conditions within Rohingya refugee camps located in New Delhi, India. A comprehensive mixed-methods approach was employed to investigate water-related challenges within a refugee camp in Madanpur Khadar, region in Delhi. Qualitative methods including focused group discussions and one-on-one household interviews were conducted to allow residents’ perceptions from diverse groups and examine their experiences. Structured surveys were administered to gather quantitative data on water access, sanitation, health, and socio-economic factors. Additionally,, literature surveys and document archival research provided contextual insights. This study underscores the pressing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) challenges faced by Rohingya refugees in the area, revealing irregular water supply, impacting residents’ daily lives and hygiene practices. The majority of families in the camp, with an average of 6 members in each family, can only collect 30–40 L of water to meet all their needs, from consumption to personal hygiene, which is significantly insufficient. This situation has resulted in severe health consequences for the camp residents. Alarmingly, over 90% of the female respondents reported experiencing issues such as urinary infections. This paper gives a comprehensive analysis of the multidimensionality of rights that intersect with and are affected by WaSH issues. The poor WaSH conditions in the camp directly hinder the fulfillment of fundamental human rights. It not only disrupts the basic sanitation need but has negative economic repercussions and causes mental distress. This study concludes by targeted recommendations aimed at improving the conditions prevailing within the camp. Full article

The media plays a crucial role in framing and representing humanitarian crises, significantly influencing public opinion. The representation of these crises in the media directly impacts the dissemination of information to the global public. One prominent international crisis is the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, which dates back to the 1970s. News about the Rohingya refugees has been a major humanitarian topic on the global stage. The findings of this study reveal that Rohingya refugees are predominantly represented negatively in popular media platforms in India. Negative framing, including dehumanization and misrepresentation, is often employed in political discourse and developments. The portrayal of Rohingya refugees in Indian media frequently resorts to one-dimensional and stereotypical depictions. The frequent occurrence of dehumanization and misrepresentation, identifiable through the use of language and selective reporting practices, indicates a strong alignment of most Indian mainstream media with the government’s position. However, it is noteworthy that some platforms maintain a critical perspective. The portrayal of Rohingya refugees in India’s mainstream news outlet’s online platforms, such as Hindustan Times Online, NDTV Online, The Times of India Online, and India Today Online, reveals a complex landscape with varying narratives and governmental alignments. Full article

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most education providers could not offer face-to-face educational support to Rohingya children in the camp at Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh; however, some sector partners provided education online, and ‘Home School’ was one of them. This article intends to examine and learn to what extent and how home school education produced new knowledge for Rohingya children and promoted the sustainability of Rohingyas in the camp during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative research approach was used to discern the impact of online education on the sustainable livelihood of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Using purposive sampling, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with Rohingya refugee children, key informant interviews with education providers, and teachers who worked in the camp during COVID-19. The conversation analysis technique was applied to analyse data. The findings of this study uncover that, regardless of some downsides, including the lack of endowment for formal education, the shortage of community mobilisers, the limited subjects offered, the limited duration of class time, and weak internet connection, home school education contributed enormously to ensuring the sustainable livelihood of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh by ensuring a safe and securing learning space and upholding the equal participation of boys and girls, and contributed to recovery from trauma and fear of violence in the camp. Full article

The increasing frequency of natural disasters in refugee camps has highlighted the urgent need for a dependable power source. In humanitarian camps, a reliable power supply is essential for meeting the basic daily needs of the residents. However, the conventional power systems in these camps often experience interruptions. To address this issue, microgrids have emerged as a viable solution. Although several studies have recognized the resilience benefits of microgrids, their application in refugee camps has been relatively limited. Hence, this study presents a grid-tied microgrid that combines photovoltaic and battery systems, designed using REopt lite web version software, to fulfill the energy requirements of Rohingya refugees in a selected camp located in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar. Additionally, this study introduces four new indicators of resilience to evaluate the performance of the designed system. The findings reveal that the proposed microgrid consists of 5685 kW of photovoltaic capacity and 9011 kWh of battery capacity, enabling it to handle a 15 h power outage and resulting in substantial life-cycle savings of USD 2,956,737. The payback period for this resilient system is calculated to be 6.37 years, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 12.2%. Furthermore, the system emits fewer emissions compared to other analysed modes in resilient operation, emphasizing its sustainability. In conclusion, the designed microgrid successfully enhances the reliability of the power supply in refugee camps. Full article

Forensic anthropologists have been involved in investigating genocide and crimes against humanity for many decades. Raphael Lempkin first coined the term “genocide” in 1944, and in 1946, the United Nations General Assembly codified it as an independent crime. However, there has not been a systematic review available to better understand the history of many of these atrocities. Moreover, many of these events have not been discussed outside the cultures and individuals affected. This targeted literature review will discuss work on historic, lesser-known, modern genocides, and finally, the humanitarian forensic work being conducted in the field and digitally. Such events discussed include Herero and Namaqua, Sayfo, Armenian, Holodomor, Nanking (Nanjing), Romani, Palestinian, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Sikh, and Rohingya genocides. Work being done in this important sector of research is a critical development for not only recognizing these crimes but also for documenting and protecting the evidence of these human rights violations. Full article

Background: Over 700,000 Myanmar nationals known as the ‘Rohingyas’ fled into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in late 2017. Due to this huge displacement into unhygienic areas, these people became vulnerable to communicable diseases including cholera. Assessing the risk, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), with the help of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and other international partners, decided to take preventive measures, one of which is the execution of oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns. This paper describes the implementation and delivery of OCV campaigns during humanitarian crises in Bangladesh. Methods: Seven rounds of OCV campaigns were conducted between October 2017 and December 2021. The OCV campaigns were conducted by applying different strategies. Results: Approximately 900,000 Rohingya Myanmar nationals (RMNs) and the host population (amounting to 528,297) received OCV across seven campaigns. In total, 4,661,187 doses of OCVs were administered, which included 765,499 doses for RMNs, and 895,688 doses for the host community. The vaccine was well accepted, and as a result, a high level of coverage was achieved, ranging from 87% to 108% in different campaigns. Conclusions: After successful pre-emptive campaigns in Cox’s Bazar humanitarian camps, no cholera outbreaks were detected either in the RMN or host communities. Full article

Being persecuted and expelled from Myanmar, Rohingya refugees are now distributed throughout the world. The Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia has been a preferred destination for Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar’s state-sponsored genocide and more recently in a bid to change their fates from the refugee camps in Bangladesh. Refugees are one of the most vulnerable groups in Malaysia and often face dire circumstances, in which their health and wellbeing are compromised. Amidst a plethora of structural challenges, Rohingya refugees try to claim some of their rights with the aid of the UN card (UNHCR ID cards) in Malaysia. Guided by the culture-centered approach (CCA), this study examined the perspectives and experiences of healthcare among Rohingya refugees while living in Malaysia, now resettled in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The participants’ narratives showed that the UN card not only materialized their refugee status in Malaysia but also offered them a way of living in a world where documents anchor the materiality of health. Full article

The influx of nearly a million refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in August 2017 put significant pressure on the regional landscape leading to land degradation due to biomass removal to provide shelter and fuel energy and posed critical challenges for both host and displaced population. This article emphasizes geospatial applications at different stages of addressing land degradation in Cox’s Bazar. A wide range of data and methods were used to delineate land tenure, estimate wood fuel demand and supply, assess land degradation, evaluate land restoration suitability, and monitor restoration activities. The quantitative and spatially explicit information from these geospatial assessments integrated with the technical guidelines for sustainable land management and an adaptive management strategy was critical in enabling a collaborative, multi-disciplinary and evidence-based approach to successfully restoring degraded landscapes in a displacement setting. Full article

The emergence of an outbreak of Monkeypox disease (MPXD) is caused by a contagious zoonotic Monkeypox virus (MPXV) that has spread globally. Yet, there is no study investigating the effect of climatic changes on MPXV transmission. Thus, studies on the changing epidemiology, evolving nature of the virus, and ecological niche are highly paramount. Determination of the role of potential meteorological drivers including temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, dew point, wind speed, and surface pressure is beneficial to understand the MPXD outbreak. This study examines the changes in MPXV cases over time while assessing the meteorological characteristics that could impact these disparities from the onset of the global outbreak. To conduct this data-based research, several well-accepted statistical techniques including Simple Exponential Smoothing (SES), Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Automatic forecasting time-series model (Prophet), and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Explanatory Variables (ARIMAX) were applied to delineate the correlation of the meteorological factors on global daily Monkeypox cases. Data on MPXV cases including affected countries spanning from 6 May 2022, to 9 November 2022, from global databases and meteorological data were used to evaluate the developed models. According to the ARIMAX model, the results showed that temperature, relative humidity, and surface pressure have a positive impact [(51.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): −274.55 to 377.68), (17.32, 95% CI: −83.71 to 118.35) and (23.42, 95% CI: −9.90 to 56.75), respectively] on MPXV cases. In addition, dew/frost point, precipitation, and wind speed show a significant negative impact on MPXD cases. The Prophet model showed a significant correlation with rising MPXD cases, although the trend predicts peak values while the overall trend increases. This underscores the importance of immediate and appropriate preventive measures (timely preparedness and proactive control strategies) with utmost priority against MPXD including awareness-raising programs, the discovery, and formulation of effective vaccine candidate(s), prophylaxis and therapeutic regimes, and management strategies. Full article