Rohingya People in Rakhine State. Myanmar. (image: Public Domain)
SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the country’s overseas aid agency, said Monday that it will launch a project to improve the health and human rights of female Myanmar refugees in Bangladesh.
About 1 million Rohingya refugees are living at a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar in southern Bangladesh. More than a half of them are women and children who are often the targets of various crimes, including sexual assault.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, there is only one public toilet per 100 to 150 people within the refugee camp. Without locking devices, the public toilets are exposed to various risks.
Accordingly, 86 percent of women there avoid using toilets or use them despite the risks.
To avoid the use of public toilets, some women at the refugee camp reduce their consumption of water and food during their menstrual period and suffer from diseases like urinary tract infections.
The KOICA plans to invest US$3 million by 2024 to promote public health knowledge on health management and the proper method of using sanitary pads for female teenagers between 10 and 19 years of age, and female caregivers between 20 and 49 years of age.
In addition, the KOICA plans to distribute menstrual hygiene management kits containing personal sanitary necessities such as underwear, soap and sanitary pads.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
