MSF continues to work together with the Bangladeshi authorities, WHO and other healthcare organisations to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We have created isolation wards in all our medical facilities in Cox’s Bazar and are preparing two dedicated treatment centres.
In the dedicated isolation wards in our facilities in Cox’s Bazar, MSF is now treating a number of patients who are COVID-19 positive, as well as monitoring others with suspected COVID-19, We have established a total capacity of 300 beds for our response so far.
In the outpatient areas in our health clinics we have also set up specific waiting areas for patients showing symptoms of COVID-19.
In the Kamrangirchar slum, we have reduced regular activities to focus resources on our main clinic, where we continue to provide sexual and reproductive health services, as well as health promotion for COVID-19. We are supporting the local health facilities with infection prevention and control training.
Meanwhile, our teams are continuing health promotion and our regular medical activities remain ongoing.
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Healthcare in Dhaka
Vaccination Campaigns
Rohingya Refugee Crisis
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.
