Tell us more about IRC Bangladesh. What other issues is the IRC working on besides the Rohingya response?
The IRC started its operations in Bangladesh in response to the uptick in the number of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar in 2017. Currently, the IRC addresses both the Rohingya and climate crises in Bangladesh, operating in all 33 Rohingya camps as well as host communities in Cox’s Bazar.
The IRC runs seven primary healthcare centres to provide essential health services, supports clients in enhancing their economic stability through its Economic Recovery and Development programs, and addresses gender-based violence by safeguarding vulnerable children and individuals while also helping women and people with disabilities access justice through both formal and informal systems via its Integrated Protection programs.
The Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiative fosters children’s cognitive development while nutrition programs combat child malnutrition.
Beyond Cox's Bazar, the IRC operates in southern Bangladesh, including Patuakhali, Satkhira, Barisal and Khulna, to build resilience in climate-affected communities. In collaboration with local government and community partners, the IRC has developed local adaptation plans to address climate vulnerabilities and strengthen community resilience.
What durable solutions does your organization advocate to address the Rohingya crisis, and what specific actions do you urge regional and international communities to take in support of these solutions?
The IRC advocates for durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis, prioritizing safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation alongside shared responsibility at the regional and international levels. Given the continued instability in Myanmar, repatriation remains uncertain, and we call for robust international support to address the urgent needs of refugees while they remain in Bangladesh and other host countries.
The IRC’s resettlement program provides an important pathway for vulnerable Rohingya refugees, offering them a lifeline by helping them rebuild their lives in third countries. This program and other initiatives ensure refugees receive the protection and opportunities they deserve. In addition to resettlement, the IRC urges the international community to expand resettlement pathways, strengthen legal protections for refugees, and provide access to education, livelihoods and essential services.
Furthermore, the IRC advocates for consistent, long-term and flexible donor funding to ensure that vital programs addressing the Rohingya crisis remain operational. As global attention shifts to other crises, the focus on the Rohingya situation is at risk of fading, depriving it of the international support it needs. The IRC calls for sustained advocacy to keep the focus on this crisis alive in global discussions, ensuring resources, funding and political commitment for continued and enhanced support to both the Rohingya population and the host communities.
How is the IRC adapting its strategy to ensure sustainable support in the face of declining international funding and prolonged displacement?
As the Rohingya crisis enters its eighth year, the IRC is adapting its strategy to ensure sustainable support despite declining international funding and the prolonged displacement of Rohingya communities. Recognizing the situation's complexity, we are focusing on short-term programs to ensure basic services and build long-term resilience for the Rohingya and host communities. This includes strengthening partnerships with local actors and authorities to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of services. By prioritizing community-based approaches, we enhance local capacity to respond to ongoing needs while creating more sustainable solutions.
In response to the funding challenges, the IRC also advocates flexible, long-term funding commitments from donors to ensure that programs can continue without disruption. We are expanding efforts to mobilize resources from a diverse range of funding sources, including through public-private partnerships, to address the growing needs of the Rohingya and host populations.
Furthermore, we are focusing on strengthening resilience through programs that promote livelihoods, education, mental health support, protection and climate adaptation, ensuring that the affected communities can withstand shocks and improve their long-term prospects.
By adapting to the shifting landscape of humanitarian aid, the IRC aims to continue supporting those in need while advocating sustained global attention to the crisis.
As you also oversee the Myanmar country program, can you tell us some details about the current humanitarian situation there?
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar remains critical, with significant challenges faced by displaced populations and Rohingya populations. The situation in northern Rakhine is exacerbated by the shortage of critical and life-saving supplies, which has intensified due to the ongoing instability. This is affecting the availability of essential goods, including food, medicine and sanitation supplies, further compounding the suffering of vulnerable populations.
Women and children are particularly vulnerable, with many women facing heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence, while children, many of whom are already out of school, suffer from a lack of basic services such as healthcare and education. The disruption to their lives due to violence and displacement has severe long-term consequences for their physical and mental health. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are particularly at risk, with limited access to maternal and reproductive healthcare.
Are humanitarian agencies, especially the IRC, supporting the creation of a safe zone or similar measures within Myanmar to protect Rohingya and other displaced populations?
We are advocating protecting civilians affected by conflict, especially women and girls.
Tell us about how the IRC is addressing the compounded challenges posed by climate change for Rohingyas and host communities.
The IRC recognizes that climate change is a critical challenge for the Rohingyas and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and southern Bangladesh, including Satkhira, Khulna, Barisal and Patuakhali. Climate-induced disasters, such as flooding, cyclones and extreme weather events, further exacerbate the hardships of these communities. The IRC is committed to enhancing resilience and helping these populations adapt to environmental shocks.
Our strategies include disaster preparedness training for community members and local authorities, ensuring early warning systems are in place, and conducting evacuation drills. We also support climate-smart agriculture initiatives that improve food security and generate income for the refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and southern Bangladesh.
Furthermore, we collaborate closely with the government of Bangladesh, local authorities and communities to develop local adaptation plans that address specific climate risks in regions like Satkhira and Barisal. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen resilience, ensuring that both refugees and host populations can thrive despite the compounded challenges of climate change.
In the seven years since the Rohingya influx, which has been the most affected population, including both refugees and the host communities?
Since August 2017, the most affected populations have been both the Rohingyas and the host communities in Cox’s Bazar. For the Rohingyas, the trauma of displacement, loss and uncertainty continues to have a profound impact. They have experienced unimaginable hardship, living in overcrowded camps with limited access to basic services, education and livelihood opportunities. Their mental health, particularly among women and children, has been severely affected, and they remain vulnerable to gender-based violence, exploitation and exclusion.
At the same time, the host communities in Cox’s Bazar have faced significant challenges. The sudden increase in population has placed immense pressure on local resources, infrastructure and services, often straining already limited public services such as healthcare, water and education. The economic situation has worsened with competition for jobs and increased living costs. Local communities are also at heightened risk due to climate-induced disasters such as flooding, cyclones and rising sea levels, exacerbating the challenges.
In both communities, the most vulnerable populations – women, children, elderly and people with disabilities – are disproportionately affected.
While the Rohingyas face barriers to integration and opportunities, the host communities bear the burden of the humanitarian response, often without adequate support or resources. The compounded impact of displacement, economic strain and climate vulnerability has created a dire situation for both populations, highlighting the urgent need for long-term, sustainable solutions that holistically address them.
The current geopolitical situation suggests limited prospects for repatriation. From a humanitarian agency’s perspective, what could be a sustainable solution?
The IRC believes that the resolution of the Rohingya crisis lies in Myanmar; however, the conditions in Myanmar, especially in Rakhine State, remain volatile and conflict-ridden, making safe repatriation highly challenging. Given the geopolitical complexities, a realistic approach to the Rohingya crisis must consider sustainable alternatives to repatriation that uphold the dignity, self-reliance and resilience of Rohingya communities while also supporting host communities.
From a humanitarian perspective, the IRC encourages measures that include providing accredited education, vocational training and skills development programs for Rohingya communities. Such initiatives, led by the government of Bangladesh in collaboration with humanitarian actors, would empower Rohingya communities with the skills to support themselves and meaningfully contribute to local economies. With access to safe, regulated work opportunities, the Rohingya population could engage in local markets through micro-enterprises, small-scale agriculture, craftsmanship or trade – relieving some economic pressure on host communities and promoting economic resilience.
The IRC also envisions that skill-building initiatives could create pathways for potential resettlement to third countries, where developed nations often seek skilled labour, offering a viable future for Rohingya refugees. Since the onset of the crisis, the IRC has advocated durable solutions, actively engaging at global, regional and national levels to push for comprehensive, sustainable outcomes.
At the policy level, humanitarian agencies like the IRC can work with governments and international stakeholders to advocate for policies that extend legal protections, work rights and access to education for Rohingya communities. This includes pushing for resettlement options and a more substantial commitment to international responsibility-sharing to alleviate Bangladesh's strain. By empowering Rohingya communities with skills, education and inclusion in local economies, we can support a long-term vision for stability and resilience for both Rohingya and host communities.
