Bangladesh

19 November 2024

Around 23.6 million of the people living in Bangladesh, including around 300,000 Rohingya refugees, are estimated to experience high acute food insecurity levels – i.e. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse – between October–December 2024. They are in urgent need of food assistance. The figure is a 45% increase from the previous projection of 16.5 million for April–October. More than 1.6 million people are projected to experience Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels, mostly those residing in the districts of Sunamganj (around 274,000), Kurigram (around 238,000), and Noakhali (around 186,000). The main drivers of food insecurity are natural hazards such as Cyclone Remal and floods, the political unrest resulting from the widespread protests of mid-2024, and economic shocks, such as persistently high inflation, reduced remittance inflow, and currency depreciation. (IPC 07/11/2024, IPC 02/04/2024)

29 October 2024

Since the beginning of 2024, around 40,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing the escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state resulting from the conflict between the military junta and the Arakan Army and the subsequent worsening of the humanitarian crisis in the state. They are residing in overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, which comprise more than one million registered Rohingya refugees, almost all of whom depend humanitarian aid. The newly arrived Rohingya refugees urgently need food, potable water, and access to other essential services. (Stimson Center 25/10/2024, RFA 28/10/2024)

17 September 2024

Floods since late August 2024 have damaged around 307,000 houses and destroyed 27,000 in 11 districts of eastern Bangladesh. The floods have damaged over 350,000 hectares of crops, threatening livelihood food security in the coming months in the flood-affected areas. The flooding has also damaged vast agricultural lands in the districts of Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, and Sylhet, where around 3.2 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity – i.e. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions. Continuous rain in mid-September also caused floods, worsening the situation in some parts and newly inundating other parts of the country. Urgent needs include food, potable water, access to WASH facilities, hygiene kits, healthcare services, and shelter support. (Shelter Cluster 11/09/2024, IPC 02/04/2024, Oxfam 25/08/2024)

04 September 2024

In July–August 2024, around 8,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing the escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state resulting from the conflict between the Myanmar military junta and the Arakan Army. They are residing in overcrowded shelters in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps, adding to the around 954,000 Rohingya refugees already settled there. The newly arrived Rohingya refugees urgently need food, potable water, and access to other essential services. (Reuters 04/09/2024, Govt. Bangladesh/UNHCR 31/07/2024)

03 September 2024

There has been an outbreak of waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoea, dysentery, and skin infections, in areas of Bangladesh affected by the floods that occurred in late August 2024, especially in the districts of Feni and Noakhali. This outbreak is overwhelming health facilities in the area. The floods have damaged around 163,000 water points and 296,000 latrines, making adequate WASH access very challenging for the affected people and likely further increasing the spread of waterborne diseases. The affected people urgently need food, potable water, healthcare support, access to WASH facilities, and shelter. (DT 31/08/2024, The Daily Star 01/09/2024, CARE 31/08/2024)

27 August 2024

Floods in late August 2024 have affected more than five million people in 11 districts of eastern Bangladesh. The most affected districts are Chattogram, Cumilla, Feni, Lakshmipur, Moulvibazar, and Noakhali. Until 27 August, the flooding displaced around 510,000 people to shelter centres. It has damaged and destroyed critical infrastructure, including roads, power lines, and cell towers, and cut access to essential services. WASH facilities, such as tube wells and latrines, and agricultural fields and fishponds have incurred significant damage, severely affecting WASH access and livelihoods. The lack of WASH access has raised the risk of respiratory infections and waterborne diseases. Urgent needs include search-and-rescue support, food, drinking water, hygiene materials, essential medicine (including oral rehydration salts), and cash support. Communication breakdowns and the inundation of remote areas severely hamper the humanitarian response. Many areas are only reachable by water, and a severe shortage of boats aggravates the situation. (UNCT 27/08/2024, ECHO 26/08/2024, MoDMR 27/08/2024)

24 July 2024

Widespread student protests have erupted following violent clashes on 15 July 2024, killing at least 163 by 22 July. This wave of protests is an outcome of the civil unrest responding to a 5 June High Court ruling reinstating a quota system for government jobs. In response to the protests, the Government has imposed a curfew on 19 July and restricted internet access, further worsening the crisis. Communication blackouts and electricity shortages are severely disrupting access to essential services, including healthcare, education, banking, and WASH services. Protesters have blocked many roads, further restricting movement and leading to clashes with the police. The blockade is also hindering the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people. At the same time, the shutdown is affecting the country’s economy and small businesses, particularly in the garment export sector, which is a vital source of revenue. ([ECHO 22/07/2024)(https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/bangladesh-protests-and-civil-unrest-dg-echo-partners-media-echo-daily-flash-22-july-2024), HRW 22/07/2024, India CSR 23/07/2024)