In 2024, Bangladesh continues to experience multiple public health emergencies that pose risks for children and families across the country. Due to climate change and extreme weather, the country has endured recurrent severe floods, cyclones, landslides, and riverbank erosion, leading to the destruction of homes and critical infrastructure and contributing to outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea, dengue, and scabies. Moreover, a recent severe countrywide heatwave further places children at high risk.
Bangladesh also continues to host 971,904 Rohingya refugees (51% children) from Myanmar in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar District and Bhasan Char of Noakhali District; these camps are overcrowded and face ongoing challenges in providing refugees with access to education, protection, food, water, shelter, and health services. A fire in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in January of 2024 left 5,000 Rohingya refugees, including 3,500 children, without a home, leading to a further deterioration of the situation.
UNICEF remains on the ground, working with partners to deliver critical aid to children and their families. In 2023, UNICEF reached 1.8 million people, including 361,374 Rohingya refugees, through multi-sectoral services; provided 804,108 pregnant women with quality antenatal and postnatal care services; reached 984,586 children under five years with critical health support; helped 376,211 people access a sufficient quantity and quality of water; and provided training for government and local partners on emergency preparedness, response and resilience.
With your support, UNICEF will continue to scale up its programming throughout 2024 to reach the most vulnerable in Bangladesh.
