Clean water is essential to a family’s daily life. It is needed for drinking, preparing food, washing, and caring for children. In refugee camps, keeping water safe depends on services and shared infrastructure that require continued attention.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene belong together
A water point alone cannot meet every household need. Safe sanitation, handwashing facilities, and practical hygiene information are also part of a healthy living environment. UNICEF’s Rohingya response includes water and sanitation services alongside healthcare, nutrition, education, and protection.
Source: UNICEF: Rohingya crisis response.
Protecting children’s health
Poor water and sanitation conditions can compound the challenges facing children with malnutrition. UNICEF has described this connection in its reporting from Cox’s Bazar. Supporting nutrition and safer living conditions together helps address needs that do not exist in isolation.
Source: UNICEF: Children and the nutrition crisis.
Preparing for severe weather
Monsoon rains, floods, and landslides threaten Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar each year, according to UNHCR. When planning water and sanitation support, seasonal risks and access to services must remain part of the wider picture.
Source: UNHCR: Monsoon risks.
Reliable services, lasting dignity
For families, the value of clean water is practical: being able to prepare a meal, wash safely, and meet daily needs with confidence. Support should include upkeep and accessible facilities, with attention to how different people use them. Women, older people, and people with disabilities should be heard when services are planned.
Read about shelter, water, and food in the camps and learn about our clean-water program.