Crowded in camps, Rohingya refugees vulnerable to Coronavirus spread

Aid workers are bracing for a possible outbreak of coronavirus in one of world’s largest refugee camps in Banglesh, with officials warning that containing disease among more than 1 million tightly packed Rohingya Muslims will be a daunting task. With about 40,000 people per square kilometer (103,600 per square mile) living in plastic shacks side by side, which is more than 40 times aver density of Banglesh, refugees are dangerously exposed to virus.

Each shack is barely 10 square meters (107 square feet) and many are overcrowded with up to 12 people. re have been reported cases of infection in camps yet, but officials remain concerned. U.N. is t doing any testing for virus but sends any suspected cases to a government hospital.

“We are doing our best to protect m, but if virus breaks out it will be a tough job for all of us,” Mohamm Shamsuddoza, ditional refugee, relief and repatriation commissioner of Banglesh, told Associated Press by phone from Cox’s Bazar on border with Myanmar, from where Rohingya have fled a government crackdown.

He said 34 camps are a major challenge despite preparations to provide better health care services. “It’s overcrowded, every family has multiple members,” he said. “So this is practically very difficult to keep m separated.” Rachel Wolff, senior director for aid group World Vision in Cox’s Bazar, said “social distancing is almost impossible for families.”

Banglesh has reported six deaths and 54 cases of COVID-19 amid concerns that virus could spre in South Asian country through Bangleshis who have returned from Italy and or places struggling with disease.

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Many of those returning did t respect social distancing or stay in self-quarantine. One reason for low number of reported cases could be insufficient testing as health care facilities initially lacked testing kits. Banglesh, a nation of 160 million, is currently under a lockdown until April 11 to help contain virus, and troops are out to enforce stay-at-home rules.

Mohamm Kamal Hossain, top government ministrator in Cox’s Bazar, said foreigners have been banned from frequent visits to camps unless y are “absolutely necessary.” “y have been instructed to carry on work in a limited scope,” he said. A 100-bed isolation ward was built inside camps and ar 200-bed hospital with modern facilities is being deployed in cooperation with World Health Organization, he said. U.N. refugee ncy said about 1,200 ditional beds were being reied just outside camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf.

Louise Dovan, UNHCR communications officer in Cox’s Bazar, said planning was also underway for 1,700 more beds in cooperation with International Organization for Migration, UNICEF and Save Children International. Dovan said water and soaps are being widely distributed, and thousands of community health workers including refugees mselves were being trained.

Ors working in camps are told to spre awareness about virus. Mosque imams and local leers have also been engd. “Communications are ongoing through rio spots, video, posters, leaflets and messs in Rohingya, Burmese and Bengali langus, explaining how virus spres, how people can protect mselves and ir families, symptoms and care-seeking,” Dovan said.

Fear gripped camps after a 75-year-old Bangleshi woman in nearby Cox’s Bazar town tested positive for coronavirus. A Rohingya family of four who returned from India recently also was quarantined for 14 days in a U.N. transit camp. mess is reaching refugees.

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“ organizations working here told us about cough, cold and soar throat being symptoms of coronavirus,” Golforaj Begum, a 54-year-old refugee, told AP at Kutupalong camp. “y also told us how to maintain our safety. Such as t to go to or rooms, maintaining a 5-foot distance from one ar, t to mix in a crowd, washing hands properly before cooking and eating. y also told us to keep our backyards clean,” she said.

Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August 2017, when Myanmar’s military launched counterinsurgency operations in response to rebel attacks. Security forces have been accused of mass rapes, killings and burning thousands of homes.

Myanmar’s government has long considered Rohingya to be migrants from Banglesh, even though ir families have lived in Buddhist-majority country for generations. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, effectively rendering m stateless. y are also denied freedom of movement and or basic rights including education.