Bangladesh has demonstrated commendable solidarity with Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, hosting over a million despite resource constraints. It cannot be denied that the presence of over 967,842 forcibly displaced Rohingya in the Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas camps in Cox’s Bazar since August 2017 constitutes a severe humanitarian crisis, given their traumatic past and uncertain future. Despite the extensive international and national focus and support directed towards the Rohingya, the hardships faced by the local underprivileged individuals due to the Rohingya influx often go unnoticed and lack the attention they rightly deserve. Several studies emphasize the pressing need for tailored and inclusive humanitarian efforts to address the specific challenges and requirements of women and girls in these communities. Navigating this intricate landscape, humanitarian interventions have endeavored to alleviate gender inequality and ensure the nuanced fulfilment of basic needs for women, girls, men, and boys. Yet, amidst this, a noticeable metamorphosis in gender dynamics transpires within both the Rohingya and host communities.
The conservative ethos of the Rohingya community begets impediments to women’s empowerment, curtailed freedom of movement, and an alarming surge in domestic violence. Conversely, the host community contends with obstacles to women’s mobility, apprehensions of abduction, overcrowding, and resultant privacy deficits. This study aspires to unravel the transformative subtleties inherent in gender dynamics, delving into the motivations, catalysts, and power dynamics propelling these changes. It seeks to dissect the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by women and girls and to plumb the perspectives of men and boys. This recognition underscores the interconnectedness of gender dynamics within the broader humanitarian milieu. The core objective of the study is to comprehensively examine and understand the evolving gender dynamics within the Rohingya and host communities in Cox’s Bazar, with a focus on identifying challenges, needs, and coping mechanisms, aiming to inform targeted and inclusive humanitarian interventions.
Serial No: 263
Theme: Migration and Human Rights
Research Method: Mixed Method
Partner: Oxfam in Bangladesh
Starting Year: 2024
Study Area: Rohingya Refugee Camps and Adjacent Host community areas in Cox’s Bazar
