Asia and the Pacific are the world’s most disaster-prone region, vulnerable to both sudden and slow-onset disaster, including earthquakes, typhoons/cyclones, flooding and droughts. Bangladesh has been among the Pacific countries experiencing Monsoon floods and cyclones for a decade and currently experiencing Monsson floods. According to the Humanitarian Coordination Task Team’s (HCTT) and the report of the Bangladeshi National Disaster Response Coordination Centre (NDRCC) 4.7 million people were affected. Further, over 1.9 million children have been affected and reported 122 deaths as a result of injuries (98 due to drowning), 308,325 women, 239,040 boy and 245,344 and girls. 

All vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women, adolescent girls, elderly women, female with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the dual impact of flood and COVID-19 pandemic. The pre-existing vulnerabilities of these groups are further aggravated by the disruption in livelihood, household food insecurity, damage to households and assets, displacement, damage to WASH facilities, access to public services including education and health and social distancing measures imposed as prevention for COVID-19. Around 25,377 women are living in shelters and will do so over a prolonged period.

Conversely, more than two years on, the Rohingya refugee crisis remains a protection and solutions crisis at its core. Psychological distress as a result of traumatic events experienced before and during forced displacement from Myanmar have been further exacerbated by the harsh living conditions and additional protection risks to which Rohingya refugees are exposed while displaced in Bangladesh. Rohingya refugee children are susceptible to abuse, exploitation, violence, including sexual violence and neglect. They represent 55 percent of all Rohingya refugees and the majority of whom need child protection services.