BSS-26 UNHCR hints monsoon may worsen difficulties of Rohingyas amid COVID-19 outbreak

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BSS-26

COVID19-MONSOON-UNHCR

UNHCR hints monsoon may worsen difficulties of Rohingyas amid COVID-19
outbreak

DHAKA, April 21, 2020 (BSS) – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today warned
of life-threatening consequences if annual monsoon preparations cannot be
completed on time in Bangladesh amid the global outbreak of COVID-19.

As countries around the world fight the pandemic, the coming of the
monsoon rains risks worsening the already difficult situation of displaced
Rohingyas in Bangladesh, a UNHCR press release said.

In Bangladesh, so far there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection
among the Rohingya population. Despite this, both host communities and
refugees in Cox’s Bazar, with a population density one and a half times
higher than New York City, are considered to be among the most at risk
globally in this pandemic. The area is also seasonally prone to both
landslides and flash flooding, the release said.

In 2019, during the heaviest monsoon downpours in September, over 4,000
households were temporarily displaced in the camps in Cox’s Bazar, and over
16,000 people affected.

The displaced Rohingyas remain at the centre of preparedness planning and
response, through teams of some 3,000 trained volunteer first responders,
leading their own communities and these life-saving measures.

Annual monsoon preparations, however, have been impacted by the suspension
of disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts, including improvements to drainage
systems and slope stabilisation work. Similarly, the relocation of refugees
living in areas at high risk of flooding and landslides has also been
delayed. Delivery of supplies has also been challenging, as the COVID-19
related “lockdown” has impacted road transport.

While humanitarian operations in the camps have been scaled back to only
the most critical activities, the distribution of “tie-down kits” that
reinforce refugee shelters against high winds continues. Post-disaster kits
and emergency relief items have been pre-positioned in case of emergency.
Emergency Preparedness and Response Teams (EPRTs) are also on standby to
mobilise and deploy as necessary and permitted to operate in case of extreme
weather.

To address the risks of a potential outbreak of coronavirus in the camps,
the government of Bangladesh, together with UNHCR and partners, has ensured
the inclusion of Rohingya refugees in its national response.

UNHCR and partners have launched construction of isolation and treatment
facilities, with the goal of ensuring the availability of 1,900 beds to serve
both refugees and host communities in the district in the coming weeks.
Information-sharing has been expanded through a network of more than 2,000
community volunteers, religious leaders and humanitarian workers.

While it is vital to prioritise public health-related preparations in the
camps at this time, cyclone and monsoon preparedness activities must also
continue. Both together will ensure that refugees have safe and sanitary
living conditions in an additional, potential public health emergency.

To ensure preparedness measures can proceed safely, personal protective
equipment (PPE) is desperately needed, given the magnitude of the increased
demands. The large-scale procurement and distribution of PPE is vital to
ensure that COVID-19 does not take hold and spread rapidly, added the
release.

Overall, the 2020 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis
sought some US$ 877 million to meet the most critical needs before the COVID-
19 pandemic began.

“We must make every effort to ensure that the possible spread of the virus
and the coming monsoon season do not exacerbate the already highly vulnerable
situation of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh,” the release said.

UNHCR urged the international community to stand in solidarity with
refugees and IDPs to avert a looming mix of natural and public health
disaster.

BSS/PR/MRI/RY/1815 HRS