Integral Alliance has launched a Disaster Response for the mass displacement of communities from Rakhine State, in Western Myanmar, into Bangladesh …
Sixteen Integral Members are responding to this crisis.
To date it is estimated that more than 436,000 people have crossed the border into Bangladesh after new violence broke out on 25th August [source here]. Those who have crossed into Bangladesh have often endured an arduous journey, walking for days through jungle and across mountains and rivers. They are now living in overstretched border camps, in makeshift settlements, or with host communities. Urgent humanitarian assistance has been reported as being needed across a wide range of emergency sectors.
Matthew Ellingson, Food for the Hungry’s Director of Response and International Partnerships, reports from Bangladesh, “The conditions here for the hundreds of thousands of refugees are overwhelming. On top of the very serious stresses that people who have been forced to flee from their homes experience, they also have to deal with continuous rains, inadequate sleep, poor hygiene, insufficient food, nutrition and shelter. We also observe that there is a high percentage of unaccompanied children present. There are many factors that make this an extraordinarily complex crisis, and it is excellent that Integral coordination means that we can combine our expertise and resources to help more people in such desperate need.”
Integral Members have been monitoring and sharing information on this crisis since early September, with assessment teams already deployed and very active country level Integral coordination taking place, particularly in Bangladesh. Through the Integral Disaster Response Process, Members are now able to share communications materials, launch appeals, and combine their resources to respond to this crisis.
James McDowell, Medair’s Head of Global Emergency Response Team, says, “I’ve really appreciated the early sharing of information and collaboration among Integral Members as Medair’s emergency team deployed and began assessment. We all bring different strengths and expertise in responding to this crisis and we will continue to look for ways to support each other to reduce suffering and save more lives.”
In the initial stages of an Integral response calls are held as frequently as necessary, so that Members can provide valuable updates in the critical phase when needs are acute. Integral Members will continue to use the Integral online platform to share photos and stories, information and plans with each other.
CEDAR Fund, Food for the Hungry (USA), Integra (Slovakia), Medair (Switzerland), Mission East (Denmark), Medical Teams International (USA), Tear Australia, TearFund Switzerland, Tearfund New Zealand, Tearfund (UK), Transform Aid Australia, World Concern (USA), World Relief (Canada), World Relief (US), World Renew (USA & Canada) and ZOA (The Netherlands).
