Autonomous & connected solar lighting solutions for the Rohingyas

Solar energy lighting for a better life 

Since the end of August 2017, persecuted in Myanmar, the Rohingya have been fleeing their country in search of greater security. Today, there are more than one million displaced people in the Cox’s Bazar region of southern Bangladesh. The camps are overcrowded and the Rohingya survive in alarming health and social conditions. Without lighting, refugees face insecurity. 52% of refugees have already been victims of sexual violence, and half of the water, hygiene and sanitation needs are not covered.

The “Light for the Rohingyas” project aims to contribute to improving the living conditions and safety of Rohingya refugees in the Ghumdhum and Balukhali camps by strengthening local skills to install and maintain sustainable electrical equipment.

Empower the camp population

“Light for the Rohingyas” focuses on the transfer of skills. While it is essential to be able to quickly secure the camps and improve living conditions, it is also essential to be able to support the beneficiaries towards greater autonomy and make their actions sustainable. The electrification of sensitive areas will therefore be carried out by the beneficiaries themselves. However, they will be supported for two years by Friendship and Electricians Without Borders, and the camp’s populations and the teams of our local partner are trained in electrical trades.

This lighting issue is key to safety, especially on journeys to wells and latrines. The absence of light as soon as the sun sets poses a major threat to the safety of populations, particularly women and children. Electrical systems are almost non-existent. Some families (very rare cases) are in possession of photovoltaic equipment and have organized to share them with their neighbours so that 2 or 3 huts have access to some lighting at night.

In a context where people are deeply affected by the violence they flee and access to healthcare is limited, electrification of sensitive areas such as latrines or health centres plays an essential role in security and access to basic rights. Faced with this context, Sunna Design offered free intelligent solar lighting solutions, iSSL+, to secure part of the refugee camp.

Empower the camp population

“Light for the Rohingyas” focuses on the transfer of skills. While it is essential to be able to quickly secure the camps and improve living conditions, it is also essential to be able to support the beneficiaries towards greater autonomy and make their actions sustainable. The electrification of sensitive areas will therefore be carried out by the beneficiaries themselves. However, they will be supported for two years by Friendship and Electricians Without Borders, and the camp’s populations and the teams of our local partner are trained in electrical trades.

This lighting issue is key to safety, especially on journeys to wells and latrines. The absence of light as soon as the sun sets poses a major threat to the safety of populations, particularly women and children. Electrical systems are almost non-existent. Some families (very rare cases) are in possession of photovoltaic equipment and have organized to share them with their neighbours so that 2 or 3 huts have access to some lighting at night.

In a context where people are deeply affected by the violence they flee and access to healthcare is limited, electrification of sensitive areas such as latrines or health centres plays an essential role in security and access to basic rights. Faced with this context, Sunna Design offered free intelligent solar lighting solutions, iSSL+, to secure part of the refugee camp.