Food Assistance For Assets (FFA)/ Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Cox’s Bazar is one of the most disaster-prone districts in Bangladesh due to its climate and topography. The local communities are exposed to multiple natural hazards and experience recurring extreme weather events such as heavy rains, cyclones, landslides, and flash floods. Historically, it is also one of the most underdeveloped districts of Bangladesh with approximately 33% of the population living below the poverty line. The coastal regions of Bangladesh, including the Cox’s Bazar district, are also experiencing impact of climatic stresses such as rising temperatures, storm surges, tidal flooding, and salinity intrusion into agricultural soil and groundwater. Lack of roads, culverts, drains, water channels and other essential social infrastructures significantly hinders livelihood activities and services in the event of any disaster.
The influx of approximately 920,994 Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) has increased the risk of disaster further for the district. Approximately 100 hectares of cropland were damaged and additional 76 hectares of arable land were occupied to create settlements and provide humanitarian response to these refugees. Hills and mountains were cleaned to create housing for them, and as a result, sandy soils were flowing down from the mountain slopes destroying 5,000 acres of land. To ensure drinking water, an estimated 5,731 tube wells were installed. Extraction of such a huge amount of groundwater has lowered the water levels in the area, drying up the irrigation wells, and has left 380 hectares of land out of cultivation due to lack of source of water. All of these had a serious impact on the local environment and amplified the vulnerability of the host community members.
On the other hand, in camps, FDMNs are still living in temporary settlements without adequate roads and other essential social infrastructures. Many families are residing on the top of the hills without having proper access through stairs. This increases the risks of getting injured especially during the rainy season as they have to frequently move for livelihood and other services. Inadequate roads and infrastructures and distribution points are also hindering the distribution of humanitarian assistance. The FDMNs often have to travel long distances with inconvenience to reach a distribution point and collect assistance. Environment pollution and drainage obstruction are also a matter of serious concern. Due to lack of information, awareness, and system for waste management, the daily wastes are dumped haphazardly, resulting in obstruction of drains and consequent floods, especially during the monsoon season.
In a recent joint need assessment conducted by Cordaid, CARE and DRC, the host community members of Cox’s Bazar district listed cyclone, storm surge, mudflow, and landslide as major disasters which is impacting their lives. In contrast, the refugee communities listed flooding, waterlogging, land/mudslide, and fire as the most frequent disasters experienced in the camps. The elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women, children under-five, and chronically ill were found to be the most vulnerable to disaster-related risks. In addition, the low-income families from the host communities were also found to be highly vulnerable during the disaster due to their lack of savings or emergency funds to support during the crisis. Immediate actions are required to ensure the most vulnerable households, both in camps and host communities, affected by crisis and climatic shocks, are able to meet their basic needs as well as are resilient in case of disasters. The goal of the project is to strengthen the resilience of the Rohingya population through community infrastructure development and asset creation. The project will also contribute to the local economy and rehabilitate the environment within and around the camps. The specific objectives of the project are to:
1)	Mitigate disaster risks, and improve accessibility and livelihood through the construction of schemes;
2)	Enhance access to food and non-food items for FDMNs through cash for work activities. Among the selected participants of the project, at least 30% (both skilled and unskilled) will be women and 5% will be People with Disabilities.