Addressing the Urgent Needs of the Rohingyas

Late August 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled the persecution in Myanmar. The Bangladeshi government and local civilians selflessly came forward to help ensure their survival and basic needs. After an initial assessment in September, Friendship was among the first registered NGOs, starting actions on October 5, 2017. Our first and continuous concern was to ensure respectful giving and address the most vital needs.

Thanks to our partners, our 200+ team members who mobilized themselves in a very short notice, the Bangladesh Army, local organizations and Rohingya camp representatives and members and their support we managed to build responsible and continuous support services since then.

Highlights:

• 306,488 health services provided to 278,793 beneficiaries.
• 13 basic health clinics and 2 maternity clinics constructed.
• 24 satellite clinic and 24 mobile health teams functional.
• 123 institutional delivery conducted in maternity clinics of which 38 are cesarean delivery.
• 157 delivery assisted by Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) at the household level.
• 17,640 nutrition food packets distributed among 200 babies and 80 mothers for 9 weeks.
• 700 emergency dry food packets distributed.
• 11,451 hygiene kits distributed and 453 hygiene awareness sessions conducted.
• 51 deep tube-wells, 150 latrines and 150 bathing spaces constructed.
• 40 hand-washing devices and 40 garbage pits installed.
• 1,000 beneficiary trained on fire safety and received fire buckets.
• 2,000 plantation done by 1,000 trained beneficiaries.
• 2 fecal sludge management plants built.
• 8 Child-Friendly Spaces established.
• 950 children enrolled in Child-Friendly Spaces.
• 21 solar-systems and 60 street lamps installed.
• 30 dignity billboards installed.
• 5 bamboo bridges constructed.

Needs are still tremendous and evolving. Of course, the main concern is now to ensure the continuity of health services, but also to take care of adolescents, prepare for the winter period and strengthen all infrastructure, in order to restore dignity and hope among the Rohingya and the host communities.

Links:

• Rohingya Crisis: Our Achievements, One Year After

• 181011_Global_Giving_Rohingya_Report.pdf (PDF)
  

Friendship for the Rohingya

Rohingya Response

The humanitarian crisis caused by escalating violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is causing suffering on a catastrophic scale. As of 27 January, 688,000 new arrivals have been registered since 25 August (UNOCHA). In response to the crisis, Friendship has setup clinics, maternity clinic, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) infrastructures, social spaces for women and children, bamboo bridges, solar for static clinics, and billboards to create awareness on ‘ensuring dignity for all’     

Completed:   

1. Health services 143,944
2. Food and nutrition packet distribution 18,340
3. Static clinic 11
4. Friendship Maternity Center 2
5. Bamboo bridge 5
6. Dignity billboard 30
7. Social space 9
8. Deep tube well 51
9. Latrine 150
10. Bathing Space 150
11. Solar for static clinics 8
12. Installation of solar street light 60

In progress: 

• Static clinic 2
• Social space 2
• Bathing Space 60
• Latrine 60
• Deep tube well 20
• Installation of solar street light 20

Selected Videos

• Addressing the urgent needs of the Rohingyas
• Friendship Health Clinics providing essential health services for Rohingyas
• "I have never seen anything like this"- Marc Elvinger, Chairman, Friendship Luxembourg
• Field visit in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh - by Marc Elvinger, Chairman Friendship Luxembourg
• Water is Life
• Born in Bangladesh
• Friendship Clinics Offer Badly Needed Health Services
• Dignity for All
• Wanton water and Rohingya floods- Bangladesh in double jeopardy

Friendship Overview

Friendship is a needs-based non-government organization (NGO) that aims to strengthen marginalized communities and empower people to reach their full potential through a sustainable, integrated development approach. Founded by Runa Khan in 2002, Friendship began with the innovative concept of a floating hospital with the vision of carrying healthcare to the ultra-poor in the remote communities. Since then, Friendship has developed a structured, three-tier healthcare system to provide comprehensive quality healthcare and information. Recognizing that the broader goal of enabling these communities to improve their living conditions and gain control over their lives requires more than healthcare support alone, Friendship has progressively built its distinctive integrated community development model, which includes: Health, Education, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Management, Inclusive Citizenship, Sustainable Economic Development and Cultural Preservation. Friendship supports communities mainly in the shifting northern river islands, known as “Chars”, of the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers and in the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal.

Selected Videos

• Friendship: Nurturing Dignity and Hope
• Climate change in Bangladesh - a film by Yann Arthus Bertrand
• Friendship receives Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2016
• Michael Hall (/Dexter) visits Friendship’s Hospital ship
• Greenpeace’s iconic Rainbow Warrior II becomes a hospital ship
• National Geographic - Preserving Bangladesh's Boatbuilding Heritage
• “Voice of Bangladesh” - a documentary by Vito Labalestra

Brochures

• Friendship Overview Brochure
• Friendship Strategic Plan 2017-2019
• Friendship Annual Report 2016

• 180718_Friendship_for_the_Rohingya.docx (DOCX)