AHP Rohingya Refugee Response
Photo credit: Lisa Ritchie, AHP Support Unit
Psychosocial support services are integrated into wider primary and public health services provided to Rohingya refugees through the AHP Rohingya refugee response.
Farhana Tabassom is a Psychosocial Support Officer with Save the Children in Bangladesh where she is support Rohingya refugees in the camps in Coxs Bazar to deal with the trauma of leaving Myanmar and the day-to-day challenges of living in the camps.
Below is Farhana's insights into the challenges faced by the Rohingya.
"There are two main challenges that people are facing. Firstly, they worry about how to feed their children. They are provided rice, oil and lentils by the NGOS, but it is sometimes not enough. They worry about how to get fish or other forms of protein and vegetables for their children.
Secondly, the emotions about Myanmar are very strong. They want to go home. They worry and wonder if their land is still there, if their relatives are safe.
A lot of people lost family - their siblings, their parents, their sons and their daughters. they think about this loss and can get very distressed.
They have also faced violence that they cannot forget.
We provide them with coping strategies. But most importantly we listen actively and we are very respectful when we are listening. When so many people are distressed, they are not able to listen to each other as hearing the traumatic events experienced by others only adds to their stress.
Through the psychosocial services we refer serious cases to health professionals such as psychiatrists. We also refer any identified medical cases to the health centre.
Some of the coping mechanisms we offer include asking people what they like to do. For example, some people like praying, playing with their children or gardening. These activities bring them feelings of peace or happiness. So one coping mechanisms is to engage in these activities.
Gardening has proven a positive activity to engage in for many. There is not a lot of space in the camp, but people are planting small gardens around their shelters. This is not only an activity they enjoy, but it brings them outside and they begin to interact with those staying near them.
We cannot say that the trauma is lessening, and there is so much uncertainty being experienced by the Rohingya currently. We can say that their are strategies and health services being offered that can support people in distress and in need of care."
AHP Rohingya Refugee Response
Photo credit: Lisa Ritchie, AHP Support Unit
Psychosocial support services are integrated into wider primary and public health services provided to Rohingya refugees through the AHP Rohingya refugee response.
Farhana Tabassom is a Psychosocial Support Officer with Save the Children in Bangladesh where she is support Rohingya refugees in the camps in Coxs Bazar to deal with the trauma of leaving Myanmar and the day-to-day challenges of living in the camps.
Below is Farhana's insights into the challenges faced by the Rohingya.
"There are two main challenges that people are facing. Firstly, they worry about how to feed their children. They are provided rice, oil and lentils by the NGOS, but it is sometimes not enough. They worry about how to get fish or other forms of protein and vegetables for their children.
Secondly, the emotions about Myanmar are very strong. They want to go home. They worry and wonder if their land is still there, if their relatives are safe.
A lot of people lost family - their siblings, their parents, their sons and their daughters. they think about this loss and can get very distressed.
They have also faced violence that they cannot forget.
We provide them with coping strategies. But most importantly we listen actively and we are very respectful when we are listening. When so many people are distressed, they are not able to listen to each other as hearing the traumatic events experienced by others only adds to their stress.
Through the psychosocial services we refer serious cases to health professionals such as psychiatrists. We also refer any identified medical cases to the health centre.
Some of the coping mechanisms we offer include asking people what they like to do. For example, some people like praying, playing with their children or gardening. These activities bring them feelings of peace or happiness. So one coping mechanisms is to engage in these activities.
Gardening has proven a positive activity to engage in for many. There is not a lot of space in the camp, but people are planting small gardens around their shelters. This is not only an activity they enjoy, but it brings them outside and they begin to interact with those staying near them.
We cannot say that the trauma is lessening, and there is so much uncertainty being experienced by the Rohingya currently. We can say that their are strategies and health services being offered that can support people in distress and in need of care."