Another UNHCR cargo jet lands with 100 mts of aid
Dhaka: The UNHCR-chartered Boeing 777 cargo jet, loaded with 100 metric tonnes of aid, landed in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon.
As part of its contribution to the response led by Bangladesh authorities, UNHCR has flown in its fourth humanitarian airlift which landed in Dhaka at 12:30pm.
"UNHCR is calling for a redoubling of the international humanitarian response in Bangladesh," UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Tuesday.
This is in light of concerns that conditions for an estimated 436,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar in the last month could still deteriorate.
"As shelter needs in southeastern Bangladesh are acute, this flight has been loaded with shelter materials only. Two more aid flights are being scheduled," said the Spokesperson.
Despite every effort by those on the ground, Edwards said, the massive influx of people seeking safety has been outpacing capacities to respond, and the situation for these refugees has still not stabilised.
"Many of those who have arrived recently are deeply traumatised. Despite having found refuge in Bangladesh, they're still exposed to enormous hardship," said the spokesperson.
At the request of Bangladesh authorities, UNHCR and their partners have scaled up protection and life-saving support to the new arrivals in Kutupalong and Nayapara camps, and extended this support to the informal settlements surrounding these camps.
UNHCR is also distributing emergency shelter kits, kitchen sets, jerry cans, sleeping mats, solar lamps, and other non-food items.
"We continue to identify and support the most vulnerable refugees such as unaccompanied children, women, the elderly and disabled, who are in urgent need of shelter, food, water, and healthcare," Edwards said.
In the last week, the UNHCR and their partners distributed hygiene kits to some 1,900 women, while each day an average of 9,900 people received meals through community kitchens, 2,600 received other hot meals, and 4,700 received high-energy biscuits.
As the population in the Kutupalong and Nayapara camps has now doubled so have the needs for clean drinking water.
"In the last few weeks, we've constructed additional seven deep tube-wells, 13 shallow tube-wells, and 116 latrine chambers in the two camps to help deal with this increase," Edwards said.
During his visit to Bangladesh this past weekend, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi discussed the importance of working towards solutions with Bangladeshi authorities.
He emphasised that for now, the immediate focus has to remain on fast, efficient and substantial increase of support to those who are so desperately in need.