Syed Noor’s family had been suffering from financial crisis for a long time due to low income. The family of Harinmara village in Rajapalang union of Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar, who owns a small plot of land, was struggling to make ends meet. Stay away from arranging education for the children. It was difficult to get food three times a day.
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However, the family’s situation has changed as a result of a USAID-funded project aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people of Cox’s Bazar. The quality of life has improved among 5,229 families in Teknaf and Ukhia with the help of the Emergency Food Security Program (EFSP) implemented by World Vision.
Nur is associated with EFSP’s Cash for Work program. Where he earns money by working six hours a day. Roads, school playgrounds, canals and sewers are being repaired and improved by involving local people in cash for work activities. Nur said, ‘I did not have enough work to meet the financial needs of the family. But after joining the Cash for Work program, my financial difficulties have gone away. ‘
He added, “Five thousand 229 members of poor families work in this program for 14 months and earn an average of five thousand six hundred rupees (US) 6) per month, which has ensured the well-being of the family and education of their children.”
According to World Vision, under 120 projects of Cash for Work, 39.5 km of roads, 3.3 km of sewers and 1.08 km of canals have been repaired and improved in the two upazilas. Work has been done to fill 11 thousand 989 square meters of playground.
World Vision Bangladesh Rohingya Crisis Response (BRCR) activities under the EFSP Chief of Party. Rajab Ali said, “Through this program, efforts are being made to solve the short-term food security crisis of poor families in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar and restore medium-term livelihood.”
Apart from Cash for Work, EFSP’s other activities are ‘Income Generation (IGA)’, ‘Livelihood’, ‘Men’s Involvement in Preventing Violence Against Women’ or Mail Engagement, and ‘Nutrition’. One of the goals of the entire EFSP is the welfare of children.
The Income Generation Program (IGA) is helping poor families to start small scale manufacturing activities at the local level and enter the market. This has increased the income of families, diversified their food intake and created opportunities for their savings. Six types of businesses have been included in the IGA considering the local context. The businesses are- keeping domestic chickens, turkeys, goats and pigs (only for Chakma community) and small business. In addition, training in sewing, sanitary napkins and handicraft making is being provided.
EFSP has imparted technical training to 4,608 families with the help of business plan and agriculture and livestock department of the government. In addition, each participant received Rs 15,000 as support for the startup business.
Sakera Begum, a housewife from Ali Akbar Para in Hnila Union of Teknaf Upazila, received a grant of Tk 15,000 from IGA for raising chickens. Based on the profits and experience of that small business, he has now built a medium-sized chicken and pigeon farm.
Sakera Begum said, ‘I earn about Rs 10,000 a month from the farm. We don’t have any financial shortage now. ‘
Five thousand 229 families have been brought under vegetable cultivation through ‘Life and Livelihood’ activities. They have been trained in seed sowing, seedbed preparation, artificial pollination, sex pheromone traps and biological control systems. Besides, they have been given agricultural equipment and seeds in six phases. Families are producing safe vegetables in a climate tolerant manner. The vegetables produced by them are being supplied to the Rohingya camps besides meeting the needs of the families. As a result, families have found alternative sources of income, which has ensured that family members receive nutritious food as well as good health.
