In August 2017, a ferocious military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State forced over 742,000 people to flee, triggering the still ongoing humanitarian crisis in Cox's Bazar. Currently, about a million Rohingya refugees endure challenging conditions across camps in Teknaf and Ukhiya, located in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is one of many who has commended Bangladesh for providing a safe haven to the Rohingya refugees who were ousted from their homes in Myanmar.
The refugees are fronting mounting problems in their overcrowded camps. International aid is declining, forcing the UN to cut vital food assistance by one-third in 2023.
Smooth supply chain critical
The Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh has required a well-organized and efficient supply chain to provide humanitarian aid to the displaced population.
This supply chain ensures the unified flow of essential goods, services, and medical supplies to the Rohingya camps. Coordinating and managing this supply chain are critical in addressing the immediate needs of the refugees and maintaining their well-being in challenging circumstances.
A report from World Food Program (WFP) shows a total of 950 metric tons of food distributed and $9.38 million in cash-based transfers made as of September 2023. All the active UN agencies together supply emergency aid for the betterment of the Rohingya and host community.
The essential supplies include life-saving medicine and vaccines, food assistance, LPG, blankets, nutritional supplements, non-food items (NFI), educational items, and many more essential supplies. Along with this aid, all the international bodies with the UN and donors are providing funds for emergency responses such as fire incidents, cyclones, dengue outbreaks, Covid outbreaks, etc.
Nutrition and health
Despite the response to scale up the humanitarian services, the Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) findings indicate that the global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate remains within the second-highest tier ‘‘high’’ category (10-15%), despite significant reduction since 2017. However, it is stable compared to the previous survey results from 2018.
The GAM rate was the highest at 13.7% in the Kutupalong mega camp, followed by 12.5% in the Nayapara registered camp (RC), and the lowest at 12.2% in Kutupalong RC. The younger children in the age group of 6-23 months were more malnourished compared to the older age group of 24-59 months.
These findings are like the ACF’s Nutrition Causal Analysis (December 2019), which indicated that children under two years of age were more vulnerable to acute malnutrition. The findings highlight the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s health status and show that the well-being of a pregnant and lactating woman directly impacts the growth and health of her child.
By the end of September 2023, about 77 health implementing partners provided primary and secondary health care services through a network of 72 health posts, 45 primary healthcare centres (PHCs), and eight secondary health facilities. For the nutrition sector, it has been reported that a total of 45 active nutrition centres operate to ensure nourishment in the camps.
The value of supply chain professionals
Within the context of refugee camps, supply chain professionals play a pivotal role as the backbone, orchestrating a seamless flow of humanitarian aid. Their duties extend beyond conventional logistics, encompassing the optimization of the entire supply chain process to ensure the efficient sourcing of essential supplies.
Procurement responsibilities involve cultivating strategic partnerships with vendors, negotiating contracts, and upholding rigorous quality standards. Warehouse management is geared towards ensuring secure storage, mitigating the risk of damage or loss of vital aid items. The intricately planned distribution management guarantees timely and accurate delivery, aligning with project objectives and addressing urgent needs in the camps.
In addition to these responsibilities, supply chain professionals focus on inventory management to prevent wastage and ensure the effective utilization of resources. They leverage innovative technologies for real-time tracking, enhancing visibility and control over the supply chain.
Collaborating closely with local partners, they adeptly navigate challenges such as infrastructure limitations and security concerns, ensuring that aid reaches beneficiaries promptly. Notably, supply chain professionals contribute significantly to the overall effectiveness of humanitarian efforts in Rohingya camps by streamlining processes.
Furthermore, integrating supply chain professionals with local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international donors is crucial. Their collaboration involves optimizing costs, recognizing the importance of funds in the humanitarian landscape.
By working closely with these stakeholders, supply chain professionals contribute to cost-effective strategies, ensuring that resources are utilized efficiently. This collaboration not only enhances the overall impact of humanitarian efforts but also emphasizes the imperative of financial responsibility and optimization in delivering aid to those in need.
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) reports that Bangladesh's economy bears an annual burden of approximately $1.21bn in support of the Rohingya population. Collaboratively, the government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and various donors, along with contributions from the private sector, have intensified their multi-sectoral emergency lifesaving response to provide crucial protection assistance.
Concurrently, the health and nutrition sector has expanded its capacity, reinforcing government initiatives to maintain the health and nutrition system and ensure satisfactory access to essential healthcare, with the aim of reducing preventable morbidity and mortality rates.
Notably, the Ukhiya upazila health complexes (UHC) reported a 25% surge in consultations at the onset of the crisis, while bed occupancy in Teknaf UHC increased by 40%. To address the situation, the Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) augmented human resource capacity at that time by deploying a contingency of 118 personnel, with 25 from the Cox's Bazar Civil Surgeon.
On September 12, 2023, during a national conference on maternal and adolescent nutrition, the government of Bangladesh pledged to invest additional resources to ensure equitable access to nutrition services for all mothers and adolescent girls throughout the country. Relief to the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar is provided through a joint effort involving international donors and local agencies. Local organizations understand the regional settings, culture, and needs of the affected population, enabling them to provide targeted assistance and support more successfully
The collaboration between international donors and local agencies ensures a comprehensive and harmonized response to the Rohingya crisis, addressing the immediate needs of the displaced population and promoting long-term sustainable solutions.
As per the Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2023, in close cooperation with the government and affected populations, and in the spirit of mitigating the effects of hosting a large number of Rohingya, there are efforts to facilitate impartial access to quality services for communities; reinforce public service infrastructure and delivery through system and capacity strengthening; support sustainable livelihoods for host communities; and rehabilitate the environment and ecosystem.
Aid organizations in Cox's Bazar have played a crucial role in establishing an efficient supply chain to provide essential humanitarian relief to Rohingya refugees. Through this supply chain, vital provisions like food, clean water, shelter, and medical assistance have been delivered promptly, meeting the direct needs of the displaced population.
Additionally, aid programs have empowered local communities, engaging them in decision-making processes and supporting community-led initiatives. This empowerment not only fosters self-sufficiency but also reduces social tensions, promoting a stable environment.
By addressing basic needs and promoting community development, these aid efforts have significantly contributed to peace and stability in the region, creating a positive impact on the affected population and the overall supply chain dynamics through local and international sourcing which has significantly improved the local economy's growth.
A World Food Program (WFP) report mentioned that “Due to procurement delays for fortified rice kernels, government fortified rice distributions did not take place in September 2023.” By knowing this challenge, it is clear the importance of efficient supply chain management for vulnerable communities.
Moreover, it is essential that the organization needs more concern for demand and effective forecasting management by adopting technology that enables accurate data which helps to understand the consumption and re-order level. Understanding it helps to make purchase decisions and reduce the loss of overstock or stock-out situations. On the other hand, effective long-term supplier relationship management (SRM) ensures on-time lifesaving supplies, especially for the emergency period of an organization.
The Rohingya crisis in Cox's Bazar demands a coordinated and efficient humanitarian response, with a robust supply chain serving as the lifeline for providing essential aid to the displaced population. The collaborative efforts of international donors, local agencies, and NGOs underscore the importance of a harmonized approach to address immediate needs and enable long-term sustainable solutions.
Mohammad Ashraful Islam Khan was previously Head of Supply Chain Advisory Services at KPMG Bangladesh and is a management consultant with expertise in operational optimization and supply chain management. Email at [email protected]. Gobindo Kumar Nandi is Supply Chain Specialist, Sinovac Biotech Limited, Bangladesh.
