ZCZC
BSS-12
WB-ROHINGYA-GRANT
WB clears $165m grant to help Rohingyas
DHAKA, March 9, 2019 (BSS) – The World Bank (WB) has approved a US$165
million grant to help Bangladesh provide basic services and build disaster
and social resilience for the Rohingya who have fled violence in Myanmar and
sought shelter in the Teknaf and Ukhia Upazila of Cox’s Bazar district.
The ‘Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project’ will help
Bangladesh cope with the world’s fastest growing exodus, where the Rohingya
outnumber the local community more than threefold in the Teknaf and Ukhia
Upazila, said a WB press release here today.
The project will help build and rehabilitate basic infrastructure,
improve community resilience and help prevent gender-based violence.
This includes building a water supply system comprising of community
standpoints, rainwater harvesting, and piped water supply systems as well as
improve sanitation facilities. The project will also build and improve
multipurpose cyclone shelters, roads, footpaths, drains, culverts, bridges
and install solar street lights inside the camps.
Speaking on the occasion, World Bank Acting Country Director for
Bangladesh and Bhutan Dandan Chen said Bangladesh has shown great generosity
by sheltering and providing for a nearly a million Rohingya people, despite
its own development challenges.
“The influx has placed enormous pressure on local infrastructure,
services and public resources. This project will contribute to improving
basic public infrastructure and living conditions in the congested camp.
Moreover, through our existing and new projects, we are helping the local
population,” he added.
The Rohingya are living in extremely congested conditions in Cox Bazar,
an area that is prone to weather shocks. The project will respond to natural
disaster shocks and gender-based violence through strengthened government
systems.
The project service deliveries will focus on women and children,
including interventions to prevent gender-based violence. Water and
sanitation facilities will target women, children and disabled individuals
and the street lights will contribute to better safety.
World Bank Team Leader for the project Swarna Kazi said more than half
of the Rohingya population are women and girls and before coming to
Bangladesh they were exposed to gender-based violence and now are at risk.
“In this project, all facilities are designed as women-friendly. Cyclone
shelters and water and sanitation facilities will cater to the needs of women
and children and the street lights will ensure better safety. The project
will also have gender-friendly spaces and community services will be targeted
at women and adolescent girls,” he added.
This is the third in a series of planned financings of approximately
half a billion dollars announced by the World Bank in June 2018. Earlier the
World Bank has committed a $75 million grant to provide for the health and
learning needs of the Rohingya.
The World Bank is helping the host communities with about $200 million
support in Cox’s Bazar through ongoing projects: disaster preparedness
including building and rehabilitating cyclone shelters; improving basic
infrastructures and governance in union parishads, pourashabhas, and
municipal areas; social protection; and, collaborative forest management and
income generation opportunities for the host communities.
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