USAID launches resilience prog for local communities affected by Rohingya crisis

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Tracey Jacobson and Honorable Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan officially launched the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Host and Impacted Community Resilience Activity on Monday.

The initiative aims to support communities affected by the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis.

The new initiative, implemented by the local non-governmental organization Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB), aims to improve the livelihoods of Bangladeshis in Cox’s Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts, regions heavily affected by the influx of refugees.

The program focuses on offering job skills training, enhancing economic opportunities and improving access to vital services such as safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

In addition to addressing immediate needs, the initiative will work to strengthen the resilience of host communities by preparing them to better withstand natural disasters, which are a constant threat in the region.

Local authorities, host communities, and displaced populations will collaborate to protect over 35,000 hectares of land, conserving the region’s critical natural resources.

This effort marks a significant step in fostering long-term stability and sustainable development in areas impacted by the refugee crisis, while fostering cooperation between displaced individuals and their host communities.