9/27/2020 Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Rohingya camps - Bangladesh | ReliefWeb

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Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Rohingya

camps
News and Press Release
Source: Caritas

Posted: 26 Jun 2020

Originally published: 26 Jun 2020

Origin: View original

By Inmanuel Chayan, Caritas Bangladesh communications officer based in Cox's Bazar

One of the key measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic is social distancing,
yet the poorest people on the planet don't have the luxury of space to do this.

The high density living conditions in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh are having a
serious impact on the physical and psychological well-being of the refugees, especially on
children, women and refugees with disabilities.

The Rohingya community face not only the challenge of living in overcrowded and flimsy shelters
with up to ten or more people in one room, but they also use communal latrines and water
facilities and space is limited where they receive food distributions. They cannot maintain the
proper distancing or hygiene measures to provide effective prevention against the spread of the
coronavirus.

They are a people whose lives are dominated by a number of emergency situations: the violent
and traumatic uprooting from their homeland in Myanmar, the health emergencies such as
dysentery and pox which they face in the camps and the repeated climate emergency they face
when cyclones batter Bangladesh. This is even without considering the global pandemic which is
now bearing down on Bangladesh.

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Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is weakening the shelters where the Rohingya take refugee, there is a
high fear of landslide and flood, a fear of eviction and unresolved tensions between Rohingya and
the host community people.

COVID-19 in Rohingya camps

The first case of COVID-19 was found in the Rohingya settlements on 14th May 2020. As of 21st
June 2020 there was a total of 4 deaths and 45 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Rohingya
population.

But we don't know how accurate these numbers are as there is a lack of expertise in the testing
centres. The medical facilities in the Rohingya camp are not really enough considering the size of
the population and only primary health care facilities are available in most cases. The Bangladeshi
government has limited the activities in the camps since 25th March.

Initially, Rohingya who were critically ill with COVID-19 were referred to Ukhiya General Hospital
or Cox's Bazar Medical College. Now it is not possible because these hospitals are facing
challenges to provide treatment facilities to the local people.

Many rumours about COVID-19 are floating inside the camps and far too few people have the
proper information. Caritas Bangladesh is working across the country and in Cox's Bazaar camps
to provide prevention messaging to tens of thousands of people. We have been providing soap
and hygiene kits to thousands of family, as well as installing handwashing stations in public places
and near toilets.

In order to ensure coronavirus messaging reaches as much of the community as possible, Caritas
Bangladesh trains staff and volunteers, consults the community, establishes listening groups and
shows awareness films. We distribute child-friendly flyers to ensure all members of the community
are armed with information.

We ensure the Rohingya people now know how to deal with the pandemic. They know that they
need to wash their hands frequently, but a big challenge is the poor water supply and sanitation
facilities at the camp.

Recently, the Rohingya people have expressed serious concerns about the rainy season causing
a deterioration in camp roads, paths, and stair networks thereby impacting access to necessary
services and amplifying a multitude of protection issues such as physical and sexual abuse.
Annual monsoon preparations in the camps were made more challenging this year by the spread
and risks posed by the COVID-19.

The rights of the Rohingya community

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Rohingya refugees have continued to undertake dangerous sea journeys organised by traffickers
and smugglers. Bangladesh authorities in the last month rescued and safely disembarked nearly
700 Rohingya refugees following a long and harrowing journey at sea.\ The international
community must recognise the rights of the Rohingya community for justice to be done and for
anything to change in their lives. The Rohingya must have their rights to live in their own land
freely and with dignity recognised and be safely and peacefully repatriated to Myanmar.
Rohingya such as 12-year-old Nur has a right to an education in her mother tongue and to live in
her homeland. Refugees such as Jubayer, 72, would like the right to die peacefully in his
homeland and be buried with other family members.

As yet another emergency hits these vulnerable people, we must work on all levels to ensure
there is an end in sight to their suffering.

Primary country:
Bangladesh

Other country:
Myanmar

Source:
Caritas

Format:
News and Press Release

Themes:
Health / Water Sanitation Hygiene

Language:
English

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