ReliefWeb

1. KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

By 11 October, an estimated 536,000 Rohingya refugees had fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh following targeted violence and human rights violations at the end of August. Between 9 and 11 September 2017, an assessment team consisting of protection staff from CODEC, Save the Children, TAI, and UNHCR undertook 16 focus group discussions (FGD) with newly arrived refugees. The main OBJECTIVE of this very rapid protection assessment is to capture the perspectives of those newly arrived on main concerns on their way to and within specific sites and identify initial recommendations on how to address these concerns. The results will inform protection programming and future data collection initiatives.

Respondents to the focus group discussions highlighted severe needs across all sectors. Although the emergency response continues to expand, significantly more efforts and commitment are needed to support refugee populations to address LIFE-THREATENING GAPS IN ACCESS TO SERVICES AND BASIC NEEDS.

In the majority of FGD, participants indicated they felt relatively safe in the site where they were residing. Some indicated that the presence of the Bangladesh Army made them feel safe. The main areas where respondents feel UNSAFE are:

• The forest: Respondents indicated the forest is an important source of wood, dry leaves and food and serves as a location for defecation. However, groups in five sites indicated that the forest is unsafe because of animal attacks, tensions with host communities and because they fear human trafficking and theft.

• Outside of the site/block: In four sites, respondents indicated they were afraid to leave the site, for fear of getting lost or because they heard stories of robberies, kidnapping and harassment outside of the block.

• Latrine and showers: In all sites, women and girls indicated they do not feel safe making use of the latrines, even during the day. Toilets are not segregated and far away from sheds. As a result, women and girls mentioned that they prefer waiting until the night. Afraid to go too far or into the forest in the dark, many resort to open defecation close to their shelter.

In addition to existing cultural and religious constraints to movement for Rohingya girls and women, the participants indicated that a lack of appropriate clothing, fear of harassment/trafficking/kidnapping and fear of losing the way further LIMIT THEIR MOVEMENT. The lack of light is another main obstacle to movement - respondents mentioned darkness as one of the main reasons why they are not comfortable going out at night or using showers and latrines.

In the areas where aid was provided, respondents highlighted three MAIN OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING SUPPORT: distance to distribution points, long queues in the sun, lack of information on services available and unequal delivery. According to respondents, groups facing most difficulties accessing support are those with restricted mobility, such as female headed households with small children, pregnant women, elderly and women without men in the family. They all are reliant on male guardians or porters to access aid. In all sites, children were seen carrying aid items.

Traditionally, in Rohingya communities in Myanmar, small incidents, disputes or domestic violence were addressed by community leaders. In case of larger problems, the community would turn to the chairman, police or the army. Respondents indicated that communities have re-established or are in the process of setting up the traditional leadership systems. However, support was requested with setting up MORE INCLUSIVE COMMITTEES and to provide access to law and order for cases that go beyond the scope of traditional leadership systems. When asked about available services in place to help survivors of violence, none of the respondents indicated they knew where to find such support.

Most groups indicated they did not feel safe during the journey from the Myanmar-Bangladesh border to the site. EXPLOITATION by men bringing people by boat to Bangladesh, harassment, theft and a lack of access to basic needs all made the long journey very difficult. To support those currently arriving, respondents recommended providing transport, especially for persons with specific vulnerabilities and to share information along the way explaining where to go.