Vulnerable people groups
Reducing the spread of COVID-19 remains a priority, particularly in the overcrowded Bangladeshi slums and the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar. This border camp continues to provide shelter to many Rohingya refugees escaping state-based violence in Myanmar.
Supporting vulnerable populations
MSF continues to provide basic and emergency healthcare, and water and sanitation, services, to refugees in Cox’s Bazar. We’ve reduced regular activities in the Kamrangirchar slum to ensure provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare in the main clinic whilst expanding COVID-19 treatment centres.
Equipping healthcare staff
We are training healthcare staff in Kamrangirchar in infection prevention and control measures in order to support the city’s vulnerable population.
MSF-run health facilities
We’ve established isolation wards in all our facilities and two dedicated COVID-19 treatment centres. We maintain our triage and screening for respiratory tract symptoms and enforce strict infection prevention measures. Our focus is on treating all of our patients and ensuring we can give the best possible quality of care for COVID-19 and other medical problems.
Community education
Our teams are continuing health promotion activities within the camps and providing education on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Médecins Sans Frontières is providing support and medical care around the world to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re providing essential care through dedicated COVID-19 facilities, equipping frontline medical staff with PPE and training, and supporting health authorities through testing and community education.
With 50 years of experience fighting epidemics, we’re committed to protecting the most vulnerable and saving lives.
Rohingya have been escaping state-based violence in Myanmar and crossing the border into Bangladesh for decades: the Cox’s Bazar district on Bangladesh's southeast coast has hosted Rohingya refugees fleeing targeted violence in neighbouring Myanmar's Rakhine state since 1978.
Refugees arriving in Bangladesh have shared stories with MSF about their villages being systematically raided and burnt by the Myanmar military, of mob groups targeting the Rohingya, and of women and children being raped and killed. Surveys conducted by MSF in refugee settlements estimate that at least 9,000 Rohingya died in Myanmar's Rakhine State between the 25th of August and the 24th of September 2017.
The combined population of Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh in 2018 reached nearly 1 million. The Kutupalong-Bulukhali "mega camp" is the largest refugee camp in the world. Most Rohingya live in precarious and overcrowded refugee camps prone to mudslides and flooding.
