Synthesising evidence from other sectors to strengthen health system responses to mass displacement: supporting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

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Since August 2017, a large influx of Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar and settled in Cox's Bazar in south-eastern Bangladesh, where two registered refugee camps, Kutupalong and Nayapara are operational. The health system in the region is facing tremendous pressure in serving such a large population, although 150 national and international partners coordinated by WHO and the Civil Surgeon's Office of Cox's Bazar, are providing health service delivery through 270 static and mobile health facilities. Several health system challenges include large host and refugee populations; responding to immediate, emerging health needs during the upcoming monsoon season and mitigating risks related to floods, landslides and cyclones, which could damage health infrastructure, and limit population access to health facilities. A team of researchers from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK and University of Dhaka and BRAC University in Bangladesh are proposing to synthesize lessons from other humanitarian sectors to strengthen health system responses to support displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh. During this 18 month project we will investigate the following question 'What lessons can the health sector apply from other sectors to strengthen local health system responses to mass displacement?'This foundation study will have three components: 1. Evidence synthesis: We will conduct a review of non-health literature following from recently published evidence synthesis reviews.2. Framework development: We will draw from the evidence synthesis to develop a health systems resilience framework.3. Case study: We will conduct a case study in Balukhali refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, to test our framework by examining how the local health system has been affected by and adapted to the refugee influx. We propose to conduct a dissemination workshop in Dhaka, to engage with regional stakeholders and incorporate their inputs on the robustness and resilience of health system responses to mass displacement. We will submit at least one manuscript to an international peer-reviewed journal and prepare a technical report to enable non-academic practitioners to benefit from the research.