Justice and Human Rights Bangladesh Project #30202

Get Lifesaving Information to Rohingya Refugees

by Internews

Project Report | Apr 23, 2018
What Matters? Humanitarian Feedback Bulletins

By Annessa Kaufman | Senior Partnerships Associate

Community Correspondent Trainings are Underway!

Over the last few months the Rohingya Humanitarian Service team has been busy! Community Correspondents from the Rohingya population have been recruited, trained, and are working throughout the refugee camps and Cox's Bazar. As trusted members of their communities the correspondents are able to gather critical feedback on needs and concerns, dispell rumors, and share critical humanitarian informations and updates.

Internews and its partners are broadcasting a radio program where people can also call in on two radio stations:

Radio Naf and Bangladesh Batar

Using feedback collected through the radio programs and the community correspondents, the first two issues of What Matters? a humanitarian feedback bulletin have been published in English and Bengali. They address concerns about the upcoming cyclone season and what that means in the refugee camps, as well as ongoing concerns regarding health, saefty, and sanitation.

To make sure information is reaching the widest audience possible, we're now in the process of purchasing two TomToms (rickshaw scooters) and kitting them out with speakers to blast information around the camps and town.

If you are interested in reading the two feedback bulletins, they are attached here in both languages.

Thank you again for your support and belief in this work--it wouldn't be possible without you!

Links:

Read more about the Feedback Bulletins

Attachments:

5 Attachments

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Jan 22, 2018
An Expanded Assessment and Getting to Work

By Annessa Kaufman | Senior Partnerships Associate - Private Sector

RHIS Infograpic

Following up on our initial report in August, Internews was able to conduct an expanded and more in-depth Information Ecosystem Assessment of the Rohingya refugee camps and surrounding areas of Cox's Bazar between October and November 2017. The expanded assessment explores information needs and communications channels, as well as trust networks and issues of language and literacy. It is intended as practical resource for assisting the humanitarian response and, ultimately, the affected communities. The full report is attached here, as well as the link if you would like to read it in your browser.

From the report there were a number of key findings among the affected population surveyed:

77% report they do not have enough information to make decisions for themselves and their family;
62% report they are unable to speak with aid providers;
73% are completely illiterate, in any language;
85% list Rohingya as their primary language for communication;
79% report they do not currently listen to any radio (although for a variety of reasons);
81% report that they never use the Internet; and
58% say they have access to mobile phones--although regular use is overwhelmingly restricted to making and receiving phone calls, and just 19% of those with access to mobile phones report that the handset is capable of internet access.

By using these findings, the Internews Humanitarian team is adapting its communication strategies to ensure that there is a flow of information to and from the affected communities.

What now?

At this moment the team is in the process of recruiting Rohingya community correspondents, and bringing partners together into a common service project to strengthen the two-way communication channels between aid providers and the affected communities. The attached infographic on Feedback Analysis illustrates the Rohingya Humanitarian Information Service and how it works.

As more develops over the following months we'll be sharing updates here. Thank you again for all of your support and belief in this work!

Links:

https://www.internews.org/resource/information-needs-assessment-coxs-bazar-bangladesh

Attachments:

Information Needs Assessment - Cox's Bazar (PDF)

2 Attachments

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