1. Situation report for Media:
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE IN
COX’S BAZAR
Situation report for Media:
3 October 2017
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY
The latest ISCG estimate reports that 507,000 people from Rakhine state of Myanmar (PFRM) have arrived and require humanitarian services, and it appears that the influx new arrivals have picked up. At least 224,256 people (44%) have received one service from BRAC.
BRAC provided 70,829 medical services (8837 today) through its 60 mobile camps, BRAC is providing family planning to 2,167 families (342 today) and prenatal care to 2,078 women (311 today).
BRAC has installed 876 tube wells (66 today) and 2,760 latrines (390 today), providing clean water to approximately 224,256, and sanitation to 110,000 people (within the same coverage area).
BRAC increased its food distribution in its children- friendly spaces. So far 6,920 highly nutritious biscuit packs were shared (2,450 today). 3,825 children attended today.
BRAC is now distributing micronutrient powder to children ages 6-59 months (943 today).
BRAC provided 2,580 households (938 today) with packs of buckets, water vessels and mugs to enable better access and storage of safe water.
NEW AND IMPROVED ACTIVITIES

2. Visit response.brac.net to donate and learn more.
KEY CHALLENGES
Long lines and heat at food distribution sites are creating barriers and safety concerns for vulnerable groups, such as children
Many adolescent girls have little to no mobility, making it difficult to reach them with key services
WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED MOST?
Blankets, clothes (including lunghis for men), shoes, water containers, solar lights, alternative stoves and fuel
Visit response.brac.net to donate and learn more.
BRAC aims to bring critical services to those that need them most. So far our services have reached over 40% of the 507,000 new arrivals.
$19.8
million
ESTIMATED TOTAL
REQUIREMENT
for six months
BRAC has visited many of the 360 families who have received solar lights to check their satisfaction. They report increased nightime interactions with neighbours, improved security, and a semblance of normalcy in their new context.

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LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND:
Many of the families coming across the border now do not have any fathers, or any parents at all left in them. BRAC is making these children and women the focus of all relief efforts.
Jahanara has been standing in the queue from 7am to collect relief. It’s now 1pm and she is nowhere near the front. She has brought along her 4-month-old daughter, because she is still breastfeeding her - and she does not know how long she will be standing in the line for
Jahanara’s baby is crying loudly. She is hungry.  Surrounded by thousands of people, but unable to seek any privacy because she will lose her spot in the line, Jahanara breastfeeds her daughter in the middle of the jostling crowd of men and women.
When she finally receives relief, she will start the long walk back up the hill. It will not be quick, because she will be balancing not only her daughter, but also a heavy package of anything she has received.
“No one knows when their turn will come. It is the same every day. The only thing that helps is if you come really early, but that is hard if you live far away. Our shelter is quite far compared to many .”
In an effort to make sure that the most vulnerable people are looked after first, BRAC brings all mothers to the front of health clinic lines, distributes goods to mothers before anyone else and goes door to door to personally find women who are missing out on services given out by others.
“Life is not easy here, and tomorrow will be the same. Things are slowly starting to get better now though. Lots of people are trying to help. I can only hope that they continue.”
Jahanara is one of the 224,000 people served by BRAC, with access to safe drinking water and a health clinic close by.
FACTORIES THAT HAVE DONATED CLOTHES FOR PFRM
For more information please contact:

4. BRAC HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Ensuring access of water to the affected population is one of the biggest challenges in the area. BRAC has provided access to clean water to 224,000 people.
BACKGROUND ON THE
BRAC HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
BRAC, a Bangladesh-based organisation widely recognised for its ability to design, implement and scale comprehensive, community-based humanitarian and development programs, is actively engaged in a large-scale response for the people from Rakhine State of Myanmar arriving in Bangladesh, specifically in Ukhia and Teknaf sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar.  
As the situation and needs of the people are likely to evolve rapidly in the coming weeks and months, BRAC is pursuing an adaptive, phase-wise strategy that sequences its humanitarian services and interventions to maximise responsiveness and impact.  
As of 3 October, BRAC is reaching over 224,000 people with its combined activities. These include the installation of over 2,700 latrines and 800 tube wells, to provide access to safe water and sanitation, provision of health services to 8,000 people daily, and safe spaces for over 3,000 children daily. These activities are supported by 600 motivated staff and community health workers.
For more information please contact: