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Coronavirus Concern Grows For Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

时间:2020-04-08 23:59:34

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Concern is growing about a possible outbreak of the new coronavirus in the world's largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. Officials warn that containing the disease among the more than 1 million Rohingya refugees will be extremely difficult.

About 40,000 people per square kilometer live in temporary shelters made mostly of sticks and plastic. The density1 in the camp is more than 40 times the average density of Bangladesh.

Each shelter is barely 10 square meters and many are overcrowded with as many as 12 people in a single home.

There have been no reported cases of infection in the camps yet, but officials remain concerned. The United Nations is not doing any testing for the virus but sends suspected cases to a government hospital.

Social distancing almost impossible

"We are doing our best to protect them, but if the virus breaks out it will be a tough job for all of us," said Mohammad Shamsuddoza, an official with Bangladesh's Refugee, Relief and Repatriation2 Commission, by phone from Cox's Bazar. Cox's Bazar is a coastal3 city near the camps.

Shamsuddoza said the 34 camps face major difficulties. But, there have been preparations to provide better health care services there.

"It's overcrowded, every family has multiple members," he said. "So this is, practically, very difficult to keep them separated."

Rachel Wolff of the aid group World Vision in Cox's Bazar said "social distancing is almost impossible for families."

As of April 3, the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 map reported six deaths and more than 60 cases in Bangladesh. The number of cases could be higher, however, as testing has not been widespread.

Most visitors and internet banned from camps

The Bangladeshi government has ordered a lockdown until April 11 for the country's 160 million people. Troops are deployed4 to enforce the stay-at-home rules.

Mohammad Kamal Hossain, the top government administrator5 in Cox's Bazar, said foreigners have been banned from visits to the camps unless they are "absolutely necessary." He said aid groups have been told to carry out limited work.

An isolation6 shelter that can hold 100 infected people was built inside the camps, noted7 the official. And, a second 200-patient hospital is being deployed in cooperation with the World Health Organization, he said.

The U.N. refugee agency said centers to hold 1,200 additional patients were being prepared just outside the camps, in the Ukhiya and Teknaf areas.

Louise Donovan is the UNHCR communications officer in Cox's Bazar. She said the agency is also planning to create medical space for 1,700 future patients. Donovan said the UNHCR is working on that project with the International Organization for Migration8, UNICEF and Save the Children International.

Donovan said water and cleanser are being widely supplied, and thousands of community health workers -- including the refugees themselves -- are being trained.

COVID-19 public education campaigns underway

Others working in the camps are told to spread factual information about the virus. Muslim religious leaders and other local leaders are also being asked to take part in the education effort.

"Communications are ongoing9 through radio spots, video, posters, leaflets and messages in Rohingya, Burmese and Bengali languages," Donovan said. They explain "how the virus spreads, how people can protect themselves and their families, symptoms and care-seeking," she added.

More internet availability would help. But, Bangladesh has restricted telecommunications use in the camps since September. On Thursday, a group of 50 human rights and aid organizations called on

Bangladesh to fix that problem.

The groups wrote in a public letter that the restrictions10 "threaten the safety and well-being11 of the refugees as well as Bangladesh host communities and aid workers," in connection with the COVID-19 crisis.

Fear spread across the camps after a 75-year-old Bangladeshi woman in Cox's Bazar was confirmed to have the COVID-19 disease. Also, a Rohingya family of four that returned from India recently was quarantined for 14 days in a U.N. transit12 camp.

The message is reaching the refugees.

Wash hands, watch for symptoms

"The organizations working here told us about cough, cold and sore throat being the symptoms of the coronavirus," said Golforaj Begum, a 54-year-old refugee at Kutupalong camp.

She said the aid groups have explained to the refugees that they should stay more than a meter away from one another and not mix in a crowd. The groups also have shown them how to effectively wash their hands before cooking and eating.

"They also told us to keep our backyards clean," she said.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya began to flee Myanmar in August 2017, when that country's military launched an offensive against the Rohingya population, following rebel attacks. Security forces have been accused of mass rapes13, killings14 and the burning of thousands of homes. In January, the United Nations' International Criminal Court ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya from genocide.

Myanmar's government has long considered the Rohingya to be migrants from Bangladesh. However, the population has lived in the Buddhist-majority country for generations. Since 1982, almost all Rohingya have been denied Myanmar citizenship15. They are also denied freedom of movement and other basic rights, including education.

Words in This Story

tough -adj. very difficult to do or deal with

multiple -adj. more than one

lockdown -n. an emergency measure or condition in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted area or building (such as a school) during a threat of danger

absolutely -adv. completely or totally

leaflet -n. a printed and often folded sheet of paper that is usually given to people for no cost

symptom -n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present

host -n. one that provides facilities for an event or function

quarantine -v. to keep (a person or animal) away from others to prevent a disease from spreading : to put or keep (a person or animal) in quarantine

cough -n. a physical condition or illness that causes someone to cough

backyard -n. an outdoor area behind a house


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1 density rOdzZ     
n.密集,密度,浓度
参考例句:
  • The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
  • The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。
2 repatriation efc8b0769e13d125d7e05d6422dd8e59     
n.遣送回国,归国
参考例句:
  • The Volrep programme is the preferred means of repatriation. 政府认为自愿遣返计划的遣返方法较为可取。 来自互联网
  • Arrange the cargo claiming and maritime affairs,crews repatriation,medical treatment,traveling so on. (六)洽办货物理赔,船舶海事处理,办理船员遣返,就医,旅游等。 来自互联网
3 coastal WWiyh     
adj.海岸的,沿海的,沿岸的
参考例句:
  • The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
  • This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
4 deployed 4ceaf19fb3d0a70e329fcd3777bb05ea     
(尤指军事行动)使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 ); 施展; 部署; 有效地利用
参考例句:
  • Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
  • The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。
5 administrator SJeyZ     
n.经营管理者,行政官员
参考例句:
  • The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
  • He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。
6 isolation 7qMzTS     
n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离
参考例句:
  • The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
  • He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后,生活比较孤寂。
7 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
8 migration mDpxj     
n.迁移,移居,(鸟类等的)迁徙
参考例句:
  • Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
  • He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。
9 ongoing 6RvzT     
adj.进行中的,前进的
参考例句:
  • The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
  • The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。
10 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则)
参考例句:
  • I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
  • a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
11 well-being Fe3zbn     
n.安康,安乐,幸福
参考例句:
  • He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
  • My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福,却被误解为多管闲事。
12 transit MglzVT     
n.经过,运输;vt.穿越,旋转;vi.越过
参考例句:
  • His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
  • The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。
13 rapes db4d8af84453b45d758b9eaf77e1eb82     
n.芸苔( rape的名词复数 );强奸罪;强奸案;肆意损坏v.以暴力夺取,强夺( rape的第三人称单数 );强奸
参考例句:
  • The man who had committed several rapes was arrested. 那个犯了多起强奸案的男人被抓起来了。 来自辞典例句
  • The incidence of reported rapes rose 0.8 percent. 美国联邦调查局还发布了两份特别报告。 来自互联网
14 killings 76d97e8407f821a6e56296c4c9a9388c     
谋杀( killing的名词复数 ); 突然发大财,暴发
参考例句:
  • His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
  • The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
15 citizenship AV3yA     
n.市民权,公民权,国民的义务(身份)
参考例句:
  • He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生,但没有瑞典公民身分。
  • Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后,她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

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