Call for integrated plan to save Rohingya refugees from Covid-19

Rights groups, including local and international NGOs, have called for an integrated plan to save the displaced Rohingya people and the host community from coronavirus in the Cox’s Bazar.

They made the call at a virtual seminar titled ‘Human Being is Above All: COVID-19 Host Communities and Rohingya Refugees’ on Thursday organised by Coast Trust on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Md Mahbub Alam Talukder was the chief guest of the seminar, moderated by COAST Trust Executive Director Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, while Ukhia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Nikaruzzaman attended the programme as the special guest.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Md Mahbub Alam Talukder said, “We have been able to successfully fight against the widespread threat of Corona infection at the Rohingya camps.”

To prevent coronavirus, 230 isolation beds have been prepared and a 1,900-bed hospital will be built soon, he added.

UNHCR Livelihood Officer Subrata Kumar Chakraborty said 10-bed ICU and 8 high dependency beds at Cox’s Bazar sadar hospital will be inaugurated on 20 June, supported by UNHCR.

Abu Morshed Chowdhury President of Cox’s Bazar Chamber of Commerce, said there was a demand for various products and services in the Rohingya camp, and locals can supply those products and services according to that demand.

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