In a bid to tackle the imminent threat of Cyclone Mocha, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has deployed 1,600 Rohingya volunteers in the Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps.
The dedicated volunteers mobilized by the IOM have been trained and equipped to respond to emergencies with a top priority on safeguarding the refugees.
With a history of rescuing their community from floods and mudslides, these volunteers are now alerting their communities about the very severe cyclonic storm Mocha.
In preparation for the cyclone, the IOM has prepositioned 31,444 emergency shelter kits across their area of responsibility (AoR). These kits include tarpaulins, bamboo poles, and ropes.
Emergency hygiene kits, comprising bathing soap, aquatab, a jerrycan, a bucket, and a menstrual hygiene management (MHM) kit, have also been prepared for 17,700 families.
The organization is also taking preventive measures against landslides, floods, and other hazards. This includes strengthening drainage and canal networks, installing slope protection measures, and upgrading key pathways.
In addition to the volunteer force, the IOM has mobilized 10 mobile medical teams and 400 community health workers to act as first responders. Fourteen ambulances stand ready for emergency medical needs.
Volunteers in IOM-managed camps have been provided with personal protective gear, including search and rescue kits, first aid kits, and life vests.
The IOM has also coordinated with the government-run cyclone preparedness program (CPP) to train and equip over 2,000 host community volunteers so that they can act as first responders in their community.
Finally, the IOM has renovated 45 cyclone shelters as part of the Bangladesh government's cyclone preparedness program, providing additional protection for the population of 11 unions of Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas.
Cox's Bazar, a region in Bangladesh, currently hosts a staggering number of 960,539 Rohingya refugees, constituting 198,037 families spread across 33 distinct camps.
A significant portion of these refugees, totaling 486,737 individuals from 98,356 families, resides in 17 camps overseen by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
A closer look reveals that 14 of these IOM-managed camps in Ukhiya provide shelter to 427,697 refugees from 86,430 families.
The remaining 3 IOM camps located in Teknaf are home to 59,040 refugees belonging to 11,926 families.