Bangladesh Operational Update August 2021 PUBLIC HEALTH Some 37,000 refugees received their first COVID-19 vaccine within the context of the national vaccination plan with the support of UNHCR and partners. Since June, volunteer Community Health Workers (CHWs) conducted a further 64,140 small group sessions on COVID-19, where they informed refugees on vaccination to promote acceptance and reduce hesitancy. The CHWs visited over 470,000 households reaching 950,000 refugees with messages on COVID-19 prevention and identified over 6,300 individuals with mild or severe COVID-19 symptoms whom they referred to health facilities. As of 31 August, Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) Isolation and Treatment Centres (ITC)in the camps operated with an average occupancy rate of 57 percent. Patients continue to receive mental health support through psychologists, and their families through psychosocial volunteers. Preventative sanitation work and hygiene promotion continues. 184,000 WASH facilities and public spaces were disinfected. Additionally, CHWs identified and supported 1,700 cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea. Over 23,000 children aged six to 59 months were screened for malnutrition, and 755 were identified with severe and moderate malnutrition and admitted to treatment programmes. More than some 50 sessions on improving nutrition were held reaching over 700 mothers/caregivers of children under two years. SHELTER AND SITE PLANNING By the end of August, 49 families were relocated inside the camps from a congested Transit Centre (TC), following the approval by the RRRC. UNHCR has been advocating for faster relocations of refugees who arrive from other part of the country, third countries or Myanmar and are registered at the Transit Centre to assigned plots in the camps because of its limited space capacity and temporary features of the facility. Several construction projects such as LPG depots and health facilities have resumed after the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted. As part of the site plan to improve access and safety in the camps, 22 bridges needing repairs were refurbished. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT 1.7 hectares of camp areas were planted with over 7,000 different plant saplings to prevent deforestation and landsliding. Additionally some 2,000 streetlamps were installed to improve safety in the camps, while a second round of household surveys for solar mini-grid has begun as part of comprehensive efforts to enhance access to electricity. Refugee volunteers from the Elephant Response Teams prevented six incidents by redirecting elephants to different paths away from the camps. They also completed their capacity development training. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND SELF RELIANCE More than 6,600 refugee and over 3,000 host community households received agricultural products and materials to ensure their nutritional security and provide earning opportunities from surplus produce. Additionally, some 700 refugee and 340 Bangladeshi women were supported in diversifying their income, indirectly empowering them and reducing sexual and gender-based violence risks. 3