Almost 1 million Rohingya refugees live in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – the largest refugee camp in the world. Most arrived in 2017, fleeing persecution, widespread violence and human rights violations in Myanmar. Conditions in Cox’s Bazar are difficult. Many of the Rohingya refugees live in tightly packed, temporary shelters that offer little privacy and bring protection risks for women and girls. Basic services are also stretched to their limits in the camp network. Many Rohingya refugees are entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance.

Bangladesh is also prone to natural disasters and refugees in Cox’s Bazar have been exposed to floods, cyclones and landslides, which are likely to escalate in frequency and intensity over time. 

UNFPA is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to provide life-saving reproductive health and protection services to women and girls in Cox’s Bazar and host communities. This includes deploying midwives to health facilities as well as supporting a network of community workers who raise awareness about available services at health centres and women and girl-friendly spaces, including maternal and child health care and family planning. UNFPA also supports a network of safe spaces for women that provide gender-based violence prevention and response services and referrals. To support the resilience of the camp’s large youth population, UNFPA funds life skills education, including to support, protect and empower adolescent girls and to initiate discussions on gender equality and violence among both young boys and girls.  

Updated on 12 June 2023