Since December 2020, the Government of Bangladesh has led the establishment of refugee facilities on the island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal and the delivery of relief services in partnership with civil society organizations. Currently nearly 31,000 Rohingya refugees live on Bhasan Char. With the continuous increase of the population on the island through relocations of Rohingya refugees from Cox’s Bazar, it has become imperative to have a more comprehensive view of the needs and capacities of the population on the island. Against this background, a joint multi-sector assessment was implemented by REACH under UNHCR leadership with the following objectives:
(1) to inform an evidence-based prioritisation and resource allocation to effectively plan and design programming activities around;
(2) to harmonise data collection efforts to avoid duplication of efforts and resources, minimise intrusion into the lives of beneficiaries, and maintain compatibility, quality, and comparability;
(3) to provide the basis for a joint multi-stakeholder needs analysis and interpretation process.
The surevey found that almost that two thirds of households (67%) reportedly faced challenges in making ends meet financially. A further 88% faced some challenge in accessing health cares. About half of the respondents (46%) information needs were not met, which included information on how to find work (as reported by 17% of households as an information need) or how to get food assisstance(24%). Only 2 % said they struggled with information about access to protection services. 41% reported the WASH facilities were considered unsafe by women and girls in their household. A decrease from 75% in 2022.
