“We work hand in hand with humanitarian aid agencies to ensure a successful and fast supply of high quality shelters and life-saving core relief items.”

Field assessment visit in Kutupalong camp, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh in October 2017

The world’s fastest growing refugee crisis

At the time of writing, the Rohingya crisis is one of the fastest moving and largest refugee emergencies in the world, with thousands of people fleeing sudden and cruel violence in Myanmar. In less than five months, more than 700,000 people reached Bangladesh.

The exodus began in August 2017, when violence broke out in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The vast majority of Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh are women and children, including newborn babies. Many others are elderly people requiring additional aid and protection. They have nothing and need everything.

Over half of the new arrivals have sought shelter in and around the existing refugee camps and in makeshift sites that existed before the influx. The largest refugee camp in Bangladesh is Kutupalong, but limited space caused spontaneous settlements to spring up in the surrounding countryside and nearby Balukhali as refugees kept arriving.

From the field

When I visited Kutupalong and Balukhali camps, I observed the living conditions of the refugees and I was reminded once more how indispensable the availability of quality relief items in emergency settings is. I was accompanied by a local, aid worker from Cox’s Bazar and a professional photographer, who happens to be a passionate advocate of human rights. With their support, I was able to interact with the beneficiaries of our products, listen to their stories and gather feedback on their existing needs in terms of food, health and shelter. Thousands of robust poly-cotton family tents, many of which were our Viva Family Tents supplied by us, became their new homes. In Kutupalong camp, appropriate shelter means protection, dignity and safety.

“As a leading manufacturer of relief goods, I believe we have the responsibility to share the message that quality means appropriate assistance and effective response.”

 

A second essential relief item I want to highlight is plastic sheeting. The high-quality tarpaulins made of strong material that offers shelter from the weather, stability in wind and UV-resistance can really make a difference. One of the main challenges of the emergency response in Bangladesh is the unavailability of locally produced relief items in compliance with the international standards. I experienced firsthand the dramatic difference between poorly built makeshift shelters of split bamboo and black plastic sheeting locally available and a solid emergency structure of bamboo frame with a quality relief tarpaulin.

Ready to respond within 24 hours

“My prompt support in the Sales Team means responding to customers’ request in 24 hours. As a manufacturer and provider of core relief items to aid agencies, we play an important role in the humanitarian architecture and it is our commitment that our aid essentials are developed and supplied in optimal conditions, from factory to field.” – Olivia Concepcion, Sales Support

Despite logistical challenges, we managed to get the much-needed relief items directly to Bangladesh using air and sea transportation:

• more than 100,000 thermal blankets
• more than 200,000 sleeping mats
• 60,000 tarpaulins
• 36,000 water containers
• 4 mobile storage units
• 21,000 long-lasting insecticidal nets from our sister company TANA Netting.

 

This story originally appeared in our 2016-2017 Annual Report publication. If you wish to secure a copy, contact bdm@nrsinternational-fzco.com.