THE CENTRAL CONCERN OF THE PRACTICE IS DESIGN EXCELLENCE. EVERY PROJECT IS BASED ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXPLORE APPLICATIONS OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TOGETHER WITH ANCIENT TRADITIONS TO FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS TO CONTEMPORARY NEEDS.

Project Results

Significant emergency water and sanitation work was undertaken in 2017/18 for the Rohingya response to address life-saving needs of over 730,000 refugees who fled violence in Myanmar. The activities of Bangladesh authorities, UNHCR and its partners, and other international agencies helped avert a public health crisis. Despite the large number of agencies delivering services across one of the largest refugee settlements in the world, harmonized standards for WASH were established and adopted. A major remaining challenge is lack of space to build facilities like latrines and for safe desludging. BANGLADESH REFUGEE EMERGENCY Factsheet – Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (as of December 2018) UNHCR is strengthening the response to better meet the needs of women, children, and persons with specific needs. This includes ensuring safe and well-lit facilities for use by all women and girls; segregated WASH facilities in all services, including learning centres. Progress UNHCR and partners have developed as far as possible safe and dignified facilities, taking into account of the challenging topography and the emergency needs of the response. Improvements made over 2018 include upgraded latrines that have larger volume pits to last longer, and WASH facilities provided by UNHCR which currently cover all refugees within basic Sphere standards. Whilst fecal sludge treatment remains a priority, UNHCR has completed the construction of a treatment plant in partnership with Oxfam to serve 150,000 people. In addition, for a sustainable and safe water supply, a chlorinated water network plan is being implemented in the refugee settlements. 11 networks are now completed in Kutupalong settlements with others under construction. Water purification tablets and water containers for collection and storage were also distributed. UNHCR also conducted hydrogeological surveys in Teknaf and Ukhiya to identify suitable locations to drill for safe and adequate amount of water. In 2018, UNHCR conducted training for WASH field teams, including partner organisations and refugee volunteers, who has assisted the rapid assessments and repair works. Hygiene kits, including menstrual hygiene kits, were distributed to girls and women, alongside hygiene promotion activities. UNHCR has helped repair drainage systems and latrines for schools in Bangladeshi host communities affected by the influx as part of its Quick Impact Projects