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Take steps to guard Rohingya's rights in camps amid COVID-19

Int'l rights bodies urge govt


FE Report | April 04, 2020 00:00:00


Fifty international human rights organisations urged Bangladesh government to take steps for protecting human rights of the residents in Rohingya refugee camps during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The call was made through a letter, written to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said a press release issued by ARTICLE 19, a London-based NGO, on Friday.

The signatories urged Bangladesh to lift mobile internet restriction, and halt construction of barbed-wire fence around the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar district.

The letter expressed concern for safety and well-being of the refugees as well as Bangladesh host communities and aid workers amid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It emphasised that unrestricted access to information via mobile and internet is crucial for slowing transmission of the disease along with saving lives of the refugees, humanitarian workers, and general population of Bangladesh.

Faruq Faisel, regional director (Bangladesh and South Asia) of ARTICLE 19, said: "The Bangladesh government's internet ban has made the situation worse. Internet access has been shut down since September 2019 for 'security purposes'. But this ban has restricted the refugees' ability to communicate and access information about the health situation."

"It is not possible to spread awareness thoroughly because of the restriction on internet," he added.

Since September 2019, the authorities concerned have prevented the Rohingya refugees from obtaining mobile SIM cards, and also directed telecommunications operators to restrict internet coverage in the refugee camps.

According to Mahbub Alam Talukder, Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner in Cox's Bazar, the authorities have confiscated more than 12,000 SIM cards from the refugees since September.

The refugees also reported that in some instances their use of mobile phones has been prohibited altogether.

He further opined that these restrictions should be lifted in light of the government's recommendation to people, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, to contact Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) hotline. Without a phone or SIM card, abiding by this instruction is impossible.

Furthermore, without access to mobile and internet communications, aid workers and others concerned will be forced to deliver critical health information in person, heightening their risk of exposure to the COVID-19 infection and slowing effectiveness of the response.

The letter also expressed concern regarding construction of barbed-wire fence around the refugee camps.

In constructing barbed-wire fence to confine the Rohingya refugees, Bangladesh risks mirroring the behavior of Myanmar authorities, who have presently confined more than 125,000 Rohingyas to more than 20 internment camps in five townships of Rakhine State.

During this time, the government should work in close collaboration with international humanitarian organisations and Rohingya-led groups to disseminate accurate and timely information on the COVID-19 pandemic, and mitigate risk of the virus outbreak in the camps and adjacent host communities.

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