UNB, Dhaka
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a 24-month project for returning migrants and vulnerable host communities to use the troubled time to do something crucial, even though it may not pay off for years.
The project called “Building Social Cohesion in Host Communities in Cox's Bazar through Skills Development” is for acquiring the skills needed to land and keep a job in the future, IOM said.
“We are committed to working with our partners to build the resilience of returning migrants and foster social cohesion among their communities of return,” explained Patrick Charignon, IOM Cox’s Bazar Transition and Recovery Programme Coordinator.
“We are convinced that through this project we can provide unemployed community members the skills needed to build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities.”
The project will be implemented in close partnership with the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Cox’s Bazar, the Department of Public Health and Engineering, civil society organizations, host communities and key stakeholders.
“IOM has already been implementing several projects supporting host communities in Cox’s Bazar,” said Cox’s Bazar’s Deputy Commissioner Md Mamunur Rashid.
“We applaud this new initiative and guarantee the continued support of the District Administration, Upazila and Union for the successful implementation of the project.”
The project is being funded with USD 300,000 under the IOM Development Fund.
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit Bangladesh harder than any tropical cyclone. Instead of uprooting trees and hurling powerful tides from an angry sea, what’s been uprooted are entire livelihoods—as well as the families trying to survive in one of the world’s most crowded countries, said a media release on Saturday.
Returning migrants and host communities in the southernmost district of Bangladesh are feeling the worst of the onslaught.
There, some 700,000 people have lost their source of income, just since the mid-March 2020 Covid-19 outbreak.
Almost one year later, most have limited access to jobs. Women are less likely than men to secure any job at all.
Adding to the struggle for jobs are the many migrants forced home as jobs are lost overseas.
According to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, over 400,000 migrant workers have returned to Bangladesh since March 2020.