SKUS Rohingya Emergency Response, till date:
CFS activities :
Children are drawing
Outdoor playing of CFS learners
Executive Director of AMURT USA , Mr. Peter Sage observed project activities of SKUS at Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar :
Executive Director of AMURT USA , Mr. Peter Sage, AMURT’s Coordinator International Humanitarian Assistance, Karl Johan Andersson along with SKUS Honorable Chairman visited Ukhia Rohingya camp on July 2,2018 and see the ongoing activities of SKUS among the Rohingya. During their visit, SKUS others senior level staffs also accompanied.
He visited SKUS-CFS at camp-16 and 17 . During their visit, visitors observed CFS performances. They observed several sessions at CFS that help to overcome children of their mental distress and talked to the children. The visitors were very happy to observe sessions at CFS and they express their pleasures.
He talked with Project Staffs about their role and responsibility’s, current problems and how to solve the problems of children.
On July 3, 2018 he conducted Organization Capacity Assessment of SKUS at Cox’s Bazar. SKUS management , project level senior from both program and finance was presence in OCA. The main areas he covered during OCA- Governance, HR Management, Finance Management, Program Management, Organization Management, Administration, Program Performance Management etc.
On July 4, 2018 , a finance meeting was held. The primary purpose of this meeting was to discuss the audit requirements for AMURT, SKUS and KNH.
Head of KINDERNOTHILFE (KNH- Germany) Asia Programs, Mr. Jorg Denker visited project activities of SKUS at Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar
Head of KINDERNOTHILFE (KNH- Germany) Asia Programs, Mr. Jorg Denker; Mr. Maruf Rumi Momtaz Country Coordinator-Bangladesh; UHFPO- Ukhia; AMURT’s Coordinator International Humanitarian Assistance, Karl Johan Andersson along with SKUS Honorable Chairman visited Ukhia Rohingya camp on May 2,2018 and see the ongoing activities of SKUS among the Rohingya. During their visit, SKUS others senior level staffs also accompanied.
Representatives of KNH visit was as follows:
Orientation for vaccination volunteers on Child Protection on the vaccination program
CFS session
Household visit
Under-construction CFS visit at Camp-16 and 17
Training for Maji’s on Child Right and Protection
Description:
Orientation for vaccination volunteers on Child Protection on vaccination program: The representatives of KNH have started their visit with observing an Orientation for vaccination volunteers on Child Protection on vaccination program at Ukhiya ,odel Primary School at 9.30 am. “Upazila Health & Family Planning Office-Ukhiya” and “SKUS” jointly organized the orientation. Ronald Chakma-Senior Project & Protection Officer-SKUS, facilitated the orientation. Upazila Health & Family Planning Officer-Ukhiya was the chief guest of the event.
After the visit of the “Orientation for vaccination volunteers on Child Protection on vaccination program visitors have visited SKUS-CFS at camp-17. During their visit, visitors observed CFS performances. They observed several sessions at CFS that help to overcome children of their mental distress and talked to the children. The visitors we re very happy to observe sessions at CFS and they express their pleasures.
After the CFS visit, visitors visit household at camp-17 and talked to the community people about their problems, community engagement in CFS activities
After that, visitors visit the under-construction CFS at camp-17. This CFS is constructing in a hilltop of camp-17. Visitors were pleased to see the construction and prescribe to SKUS team to prepare the CFS as CFS cum cyclone shelter.
After the visit of several activities at camp-17, visitors went at Camp -16 and they observed a child right and protection orientation which was organize with Maji’s with the funded of KNH. Upazila Health & Family Planning Officer-Ukhiya was the chief guest of the event. Visitors talked with the Maji’s on child protection issues. After that, Visitor go to the “SKUS”-Project office at Kerontoli and took lunch there.
After that, visitors visit the under-construction CFS at camp-16. Visitors were pleased to see the construction. KNH representatives also visited some house at Camp-16 talked people about their situation, problems and assured them to work for their children.
SKUS brief activities among the Rohingya Comunity:SKUS has proven its working experience with the emergency response for humanitarian sectors like food and non-food items distribution, emergency shelter, food security and livelihood, health and nutrition. Since August 25,2017 SKUS has been working on emergency Rohingya response in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazila under Cox’s Bazar. Some activities are given below;
SKUS are going to implement 3 nos Child Friend Space (CFS) and 1 adolescent club with the support of UNICEF and AMURT /KNH (Germany) in Balukhali Camp at Zone 17 & 16 (Prothibonia) under Ukhiya Upazila.
52 volunteers including 4 staffs are closely working with UNICEF on health, nutrition, hygienic session for child and women and involve in vaccination campaigns.
SKUS has been working with UNICEF, WHO and Upazila Health & Family Planning Office (UHFPO), Ukhia and Teknaf since November 2017 to till date with the support of AMURT/KNH. A total of 40 volunteers and 4 staffs working in 30 health camp. The 3rd round of this vaccination campaign will start from March 10, 2018
SKUS has provided orientation on child rights and child protection for 400 volunteers in both Ukhia and Teknaf and Ukhia Upazila
SKUS has distributed emergency relief for 350 Rohingya refugees
SKUS special team consisting of 6 members are working on emergency rohingya response.
Technical and programmatic support from the international organization: AMURT an international NGO with extensive experience of education, CFS, Case management in emergencies and refugees has been providing support programmatic and technical support as an operational partner. Child rights and protection orientation : A Four day vaccinators and volunteers orientation training on ‘Orientation on Child Rights and Protection in Vaccination Program’ has been jointly organized by Upazila Health and Family Planning Office (Ukhia and Teknaf) and SKUS with the support of AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) & KNH (Kinder Not hilfe) at Ukhiya and Teknaf unions. On 12th and 13th February with 88 participants, a two days orientation raining was conducted at Teknaf Health complex. At Ukhiya, on 17th and 18th February, a second round two days orientation training held at Ukhiya Model primary School with 260 vaccinators and volunteers. With 348 volunteers and vaccinators, the orientation was organized to discuss about child rights and protection issues with specific focus on Rohingya children along with discussion on child rights of Health; importance of vaccination for ensuring health rights of children; role of vaccinator for protecting health rights of children as well as a particular discussion on the behavior and communication skills of volunteers and vaccinators in field.
At the first day of orientation training at Ukhiya, an inauguration ceremony has been organized before starting the training. At the inauguration, the program was chaired by Mizbah Uddin Ahmed, UHFPO, Ukhiya, where the Chief gust was Md. Nikaruzama Robin, Upazila Nirvahi officer (UNO) of Ukhiya. Among the special guests, Chairperson of SKUS Jesmin Prema; Coordinator International Humanitarian Assistance of AMURT, Karl Andersson; South Asian Coordinator of AMURT, Mukteswar Biswal; President of Press Club Ukhiya, Rafiqual Islam; Cox’s bazar representative from Independent television, Tawfikul Islam were present at the inauguration program. At the first day of orientation training at Ukhiya, an inauguration ceremony has been organized before starting the training. At the inauguration, the program was chaired by Mizbah Uddin Ahmed, UHFPO, Ukhiya, where the Chief gust was Md. Nikaruzama Robin, Upazila Nirvahi officer (UNO) of Ukhiya. Among the special guests, Chairperson of SKUS Jesmin Prema; Coordinator International Humanitarian Assistance of AMURT, Karl Andersson; South Asian Coordinator of AMURT, Mukteswar Biswal; President of Press Club Ukhiya, Rafiqual Islam; Cox’s bazar representative from Independent television, Tawfikul Islam were present at the inauguration program.
The training was inaugurated by the welcoming speech of chairperson of SKUS, Jesmin Prema. With the greetings of spring she welcome all the guests and participants to the orientation training on child protection in vaccination program. She stated some important concerns regarding child rights in our context. She believes and encouraged everyone to respect age old saying that –‘Charity begins at home’. At modern times, we don’t even give quality times to our children and don’t bother to listen to their quarries, which eventually increasing insecurity among them. Most often leading them to be addicted to drugs, bad companies and dropping out of school, she said. The chairperson further highlighted the fact that, today’s children, tomorrow’s future. If we neglect our present, how can we build our resilience future! She highly encourage everyone out there as development workers, as teachers, media actors, Government bodies to come up together to protect the rights of our children including the most vulnerable Rohingya children who are at high risk over period of time and ensured the fact that, there is no such reasons to neglect the vulnerable situation of children from host communities as well. After the welcoming speech, shorty the objectives of this training were briefed by the Senior Protection Officer of SKUS, Sharifa Sultana including- Among the welcoming speeches, the Chair of this orientation program UHFPO, Mizbah Uddin Ahmed thanked SKUS for organizing this orientation training for vaccinators which seemed very crucial at this point of third round vaccination campaign. Firstly, he shared some numeric success stories after the completion of 2nd round and at the edge of 3rd round. He took a point from the brief discussion where a report from WHO revealed that, from 8th November to 11th January – nearly 3,954 suspected cases of diphtheria identified and among the suspected cases, there were nearly 38 death cases, among those 21 cases were child deaths. If spreading of diphtheria would not have been controlled with streaked hand, the number of death wouldn’t not have been lesser than 395.4, since it’s been declared by WHO that among every 10 infected person number of death is 1. He believes, it won’t be possible without the tremendous help of these vaccinators, volunteers and NGOs as a whole. He also shared that, in the old registered rohingya camps the vaccination coverage is still 80% and at this moment for the fact that we can celebrate is the success of coverage in the new unregistered camps are more than the old ones. Since, our first role is to save the life and after the end of second round it’s time we need to look at our quality of work by being empathic and acting humanitarian ways, he added. Lastly, the UHPFO raised an important issue for development workers to take into consideration that, over time we worked for quantity to control this diphtheria influx and now it’s time we need to work to increase the demands of vaccination among the communities, families through awareness raising campaigns, door to door visit and other possible ways. And only then, we can ensure the actual quality of work to safeguard child health rights through vaccination, said Mizbah Uddin.
Special guest, Mukteswar Biswal, South Asian Coordinator of AMURT gave his valuable speech at this inauguration program on orientation training. He supported the role of SKUS and what the chairperson shared about our treatment to our children. He went on saying that, being in each particular culture we have to ensure the dignity of our children and encourage their active participation accordingly. So far in ensuring health rights of Rohingya children, government, NGOs as well as volunteers/vaccinators are working very hard and this kind of training will enhance their expertise in performing their role. Also, on behalf of KNH & AMURT, he added that, they are much willing to work on the issues of child protection of host communities’ children and overall 20% budget has been allocated for this purpose.
On the similar note, Harun-Ur-Rasid Head teacher of Ukhiya Model Primary School, had a request to government and all the development actors to consider the situation of host communities children who are highly been affected after the Rohingya influx in Ukhiya Union. In most of the schools classes are not held regularly as before. He pointed specifically to the education facilities and risk of raising the rate of school dropout. Also he believes that, if the situation won’t be controlled immediately, there will be immense rate of drugs, smuggling, gambling, and trafficking among the children of both host and Rohingya communities. At the end of his talk, he encouraged all the participants to ensure protection of child rights during their work with children. At the end of the penal discussion, Tawfikul Islam, Journalist of Independent television, Cox’s Bazar representative, shared his experiences of working with Rohingya specially the children. He shared a very interesting information about Rohingya influx in Bangladesh at the time of their first arrival at 90’s. He shared that, at that period when the Rohingya’s first arrived in our country, incidents of road accident deaths were higher in numbers. Since, most of them had no idea about vehicles they run into the road out of curiosity and the first work of NGO’s started with the objectives to teach them about use of vehicles with specific concern of life safety. So, again we are at the edge of this humanitarian crisis and we’ve to work together to overcome this situation. Since, children are the most vulnerable entities who needs special care and affection, we as humanitarian actors never act against their interest rather working together to achieve those.
Adding to these concerns, Rafiqul Islam, President of Press-Club Ukhiya further welcome the contribution of SKUS in protecting the rights of children and also their active relation with media which divulges the transparency of SKUS’s work. His concern was also to include the children from host communities into our work and work together to overcome this world’s one of the worsts humanitarian crisis.
March 2020 update :Government officials and Southeast University foreign students visited SKUS Learning centre and Child-Friendly Spaces.CiC (Camp In Charge ) of camp 17 Mr. Obaidullah, Assistant CiC and some foreign student of Southeast University visited SKUS Child-Friendly Space and Learning Centre at Camp 17 and observed SKUS work. They talk with our staffs about our activities, interact with learners, want to know their situations.
Art competition held at SKUS learning centre In Rohingya Camp :An art competition among the SKUS learning centre learner held on March 1, 2020, at Camp 17 in Rohingya Camp. CiC (Camp In Charge ) of camp 17 Mr. Obaidullah, Assistant CiC of Camp 17 , Honorable Chairperson of SKUS and Chairman of Ukhiya Press club, Mr. Sarwar Alam Shahi was present at Art Competition.390 Learner of 2 learning centres participant in the Art Competition. Guest and specials observed the art competition. The chief guest of Mr.Obaidullah, SKUS Chairperson Jesmin Prema and special gusts distribute the prize among the winners of Art Competition. Chairperson of SKUS was chaired in the prize ceremony events.
Women day -2020 ObservedSKUS has organized an exceptional event observing Internation Women Day-2020 wit the support of KNH German and UNICEF with all of his project staffs at SKY Thay restaurant in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar. SKUS Chairperson, Jesmin Prema was the chair of the occasion where is Project Director of SKUS Mr. Mohammed Ezabat Ullah, Chairman of Ukhiya Press club, Mr. Sarwar Alam Shahi and SKUS Internation Advisor Mr. Karl Johan Anderson was present at Art Competition.
The theme for International Women’s Day (8 March) 2020 is, I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s RightsIn the occasion, all of the project staffs of SKUS working in Cox’s Bazar was present and express their experience.The chair of the event, Jesmin Prema told, once women in our county were backward, now they are forwarded and showing their success in all profession engaged. The are facing a various obstacle in their family, society, country and workplace. They overcoming these problems with move forward with reputation.
Child Friend Space along with adolescent club and Case management for both Rohingya and host Community
Women Friend Space with Case management for both Rohingya and host Community
HIV/AIDS and SRHR services
Emergency shelter support for Rohingya refugees
Livelihood and CFW/CFT
Water , Sanitation and Hygiene services In this occasion, the chairman of ukhia press club, Program Director of SKUS, Mr. Mohammed Ezabat Ullah, SKUS international advisor, Mr. Karl Johan Anderson and other senior-level staffs delivered the inspirational speech for women .Project staffs Jiasmin Akter, Masuma Aktery, Momena Begum, Haresa Begum, Sara Akter, Saleh Uddin, Sukheswar Chakma, Ronald Chakma, Abdul Quayam, Ahmed Shorif express their experience.In the occasion, Mr. Tohidul Mustafa discusses Mujit Centenary and about the life of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbur Rahman.SKUS Future Plan for Rohingya Response as well as host community in Cox’s Bazar :
For emergency support please contact :01912801615, 01712750071, +88029338519Email: skus.dhaka@gmail.com; skus.coxsbazar@gmail.com