Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Visits Myanmar Refugee Camps

2nd November 2021

Mr. Naoki Ito, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh visited Myanmar Displaced Persons Camp in Cox's Bazar and inspected the project sites of WVJ as well as those of IVY and SCJ.

Click here for WVJ’s report
Click here for local news report

End of PWJ’s Activities

13th October 2021

• ©PWJ

Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) reports that it has completed its activities including the distribution of relief supplies at the Myanmar Displaced Persons Camp in Bangladesh, which was severely damaged by a fire in March this year. PWJ will continue to provide health and medical services to the displaced people under the Emergency Response for People Fleeing Myanmar.

Reconstruction of water and sanitation facilities in camps for displaced persons from Myanmar

6th September 2021

• Clearing ground in a displaced persons camp ©IVYY
• Rebuilding water and sanitation facilities in a displaced persons camp ©IVY

After a massive fire broke out in a camp for displaced people form Myanmar in March this year, JPF has launched a new support program to prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening. IVY, a JPF member NGO working on the ground, is rebuilding water and sanitation facilities that were destroyed by the fire. We are working to make the facilities more user-friendly, including toilets, washing areas, and bathing rooms.

Massive Fire in Myanmar Refugee Camp - Status of Assistance

7th August 2021

JPF has been continuing to support displaced persons from Myanmar who fled to Bangladesh since 2017. Since a large scale fire broke out in a camp for displaced people in March this year, a separate assistance program has been established to help prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening.
IVY, a JPF member NPO that has been supporting the reconstruction of sanitation facilities and housing, has been reporting on the current situation of the displaced persons camps and the progress of its support.

Click here for IVY's report

Medical Support for Those Affected by the Massive Fire in Myanmar Refugee Camps

24th July 2021

Peace Winds Japan (PWJ), a JPF member NGO, has been providing healthcare services and material support to those affected by a large fire that broke out in a camp for displaced people from Myanmar.

The fires also damaged medical facilities in the camp, and PWJ has been making rounds to improve access to medical care for the residents. In addition, PWJ is distributing food, clothing, and hygiene products to the camp residents and host communities, whose livelihoods were further affected by the fire, as they were in dire straits due to the new coronavirus.

SCJ Helps in Myanmar Refugee Camp

22nd June 2021 19:00

As a JPF program Save the Children Japan (SCJ), a JPF member NGO, is supporting those affected by the fire that broke out in a camp for displaced people from Myanmar in March.

As a result of the fire, the number of places where children can spend their time safely, such as child friendly space, has decreased, and children have become separated from their caregivers and are in need of protection.

SCJ supports children in need of protection according to their individual needs. They also work to ensure that medical and other specialized institutions can provide support if needed.

IVY Helps in Myanmar Refugee Camps and Surrounding Host Communities

19th May 2021 19:00

A massive fire broke out in late March at the Kutupalong refugee camp for displaced persons from Myanmar in Cox's Bazar district. Houses made of highly flammable bamboo and tarpaulins in the camp caught fire one after another, and more than 10,000 families lost their homes. Many buildings in the surrounding host communities were also damaged.

IVY, a JPF member NGO, has been rebuilding toilets, bathing areas, and hand-washing facilities in the camp and host communities. Prior to the construction, they will conduct interviews with the residents to ensure that the facilities are gender- and disability-friendly and better meet their needs.

Decision to Launch

12th April 2021, 14:47

• ©Rohim Ullah/Save the Children

On 8 April, Japan Platform (JPF) decided to launch its emergency response in Bangladesh to the massive fire that broke out in a refugee camp for people who have fled Myanmar.

On the afternoon of 22 March, a fire broke out in the Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee camp in Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh, where about 600,000 of the 860,000 displaced persons from Myanmar live*1.

The fire spread to dwellings made of highly flammable bamboo and burned several sections of the camp while also damaging the surrounding host community.

It killed 13 people, injured 563, destroyed more than 10,000 shelters and 1,600 public facilities, and left about 45,000 people homeless. In addition to the homes, more than 1,500 water supply facilities, 50 educational facilities, and 16 child-friendly spaces have also been rendered unusable due to burning or damage (as of 2 April)*2.

New coronavirus cases have been reported in Cox's Bazar. We will keep ourselves up to date on the local countermeasures against the spread through exchanging information with local governments and international organizations, and promptly provide emergency assistance while taking thorough infection prevention measures in our activities. We will be posting regular updates on the JPF website and our Facebook page.

*1: OCHA, 2020 Joint Response Plan for Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis - Mid Term Review- (30 November 2020)
*2: BRAC, Situation Report #10: Fire Incident Across Rohingya Camps 2-3 April 2021 (4 April 2021)

Program Overview

Term	6 months
Budget	100 million yen (government subsidies)
Location	Refugee camp in Bangladesh for people who have fled Myanmar
Content	Food, NFIs (non-food items)/daily essential items, healthcare, shelter, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), protection of women and children