"We can drink water whenever we need to” - Bangladesh

Photo caption: Sumania's* son Khairul*, seven, washes his hands. Photo credit: Bekki Frost/Oxfam. Date: January 2018.

Photo caption: Children play a snakes and ladders game to learn about safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and practices. Photo credit: Salahuddin Ahmed/Oxfam Australia. Date: January 2018.

Sumania's* son Khairul*, seven, washes his hands regularly. Sumania lives in a refugee camp in Bangladesh with her seven children. Oxfam Australia, with funding provided through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP), have installed latrines and water pumps in the camp. Sumania lives just a short walk to both a latrine and a water pump.

"We are getting all kinds of benefits (from the water pump). We can drink water whenever we need to. We are feeling better that now we can take a shower anytime and drink safe water. The children can go and fetch water, we do not have to go far. It is more convenient. It makes me very happy that my children are getting better, they can wash their bodies. We are happy," said Sumania.

Children play a snakes and ladders game to learn about safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and practices in the Rohingya refugee camps. Oxfam Australia plans to reach 45,000 people with health awareness campaigns, knowledge products and hygiene materials as part of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership response to the Bangladesh-Myanmar Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

*Names have been changed. 

In 2017, Oxfam Australia in partnership with CARE Australia, received $3 million for their Rohingya response in Bangladesh. This AHP response runs from November 2017 until October 2018. In Cox's Bazar, Oxfam Australia will focus on delivering gender-sensitive WASH interventions, including finding solutions for critical gaps and challenges. Oxfam Australia will design and build innovative and durable WASH infrastructure with community participation, in close collaboration with the WASH sector working group.