The agreement to implement ‘Sustainable Solutions to Solid Waste: A Local Response to the Rohingya Crisis in Bangladesh’ was signed by Anders Ohrstrom, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden and Sudipto Mukerjee, Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh, on August 29 in Cox’s Bazar, said a press release on Thursday.
The project aims to address solid waste management, which is one of the biggest but overlooked challenges faced by the Rohingya refugees and also by the marginalised crisis-affected host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar, since the influx in August 2017, which added extra 700,000 people to the community.
It is estimated that over 10,000 tonnes or around 22,000 cubic metres of waste is being produced per month in the area, which doesn’t have a functioning solid waste management system, posing new health and environmental hazards.
The 3-year-long project will contribute to environmental protection, prevention of diseases, promotion of hygiene and proper sanitary standards, income generation for the host community and support waste reduction and recycling.