nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
UNFPA, together with its partner Bangladesh Police, organized a training on how to strengthen women help desk  ( WHD )  services in COVID 19 context for 24 policewomen in 12 police stations in Bogura and 35 police officers serving in 9 stations in Patuakhali.
[ 1 October, Bangladesh ]  Currently, there are 82,637 active cases  [ COVID ]  in the country.
Earlier this month, the anticipated impacts of the current severe floods were assessed. The assessment activated the Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Plan  ( HPRP )  in line with the HCTT contingency plan for climate related disasters in time of the COVID 19 pandemic. In addition to the direct impact of COVID 19 on the resilience of communities most exposed to climate related disasters, the pandemic context puts further challenges to response and recovery efforts. Partners are using their response packages adapted to COVID 19 as well as delivery modalities that mitigate the risks of virus propagation.
This year, Bangladesh is in a critical and complex situation dealing with multiple disasters amidst COVID 19 pandemic. Since the beginning of July, CARE Bangladesh has engaged in anticipatory approach by using forecast based information to take early actions, prior to the flood, to reduce losses and damages.
The bleak situation of urban dwellers of informal settlements has been highlighted in news reports, indicating that the socio economic impact has been severe, with many of them caught in a cycle of poverty due to COVID 19, and calling for social safety net programmes and loan repayments to be deferred. Other newspaper reports state that the health impact of the disease on this low income situation has been mild.
US$ 630mn losses have been estimated for agriculture sector which makes up 3.68% of sectoral contribution to GDP. 5 million workers in manufacturing sector at threat of becoming unemployed including those in RMG sector.
BDRCS Response Highlights: 15,600 Drinking water bottles  ( 500ml )  distributed among selected COVID 19 dedicated hospitals, test and response centers, Police stations, DC offices at several districts.
In this reporting month 310 peoples  ( 190 male and 120 female )  reached with Psychological First Aid  ( PFA )  through PSS Call Center at National Headquarters of BDRCS. The key concerns of the callers were mostly sleeping problem, fear of being infected, sadness, frustration and anger due to loss of job/not getting job, anxiety, SGBV, suicidal thought, family issues, loss of loved one, some pre existing mental health condition such as diagnosed OCD, nightmare, Post traumatic Stress Disorder etc.
170 call has been received through BDRCS Hotline on COVID 19 during this reporting period. Major feedback and information request were information about Polio Vaccine, demand for blood plasma remain high, information on First Aid training, treatment facilities of COVID 19 patients, request for cash and food support, dead body management  ( COVID 19 ) . 155 feedback and complaints received from two flood affected districts named Tangail and Sirajganj. Most of the calls/ information were related to support and diseases came from community people including widow and disable people.
Danish Red Cross:  1478 HHs  ( camp 14, camp 19 and host community )  reached through awareness session and handwashing demonstration where 6941 soap bars distributed.  56 deep & shallow tube wells and 02 handwashing station repaired in Camp 19 in Cox's Bazar. In addition, 508 latrine, 343 tube well areas, 1308 HHs and communal, 83 handwashing station and 12 mosques disinfectant at camp settlements in Cox's Bazar.
German Red Cross:  Supported a virtual technical lesson learned workshop organized by the BDRCS FbF team in close coordination and active participation of 38 participants from BDRCS, IFRC, Bangladesh Meteorological Department  ( BMD ) , Cyclone Preparedness Programme  ( CPP )  and other PNSs to capture the learning's regarding trigger and impact based forecast for cyclone AMPHAN amid of COVID 19 pandemic.
German Red Cross:  Provided preparatory support to BDRCS for COVID 19 response project in Dhaka South City Corporation  ( DSCC )  for cash grant covering 12000 households and IPC in DSCC areas.
German RC Cox's Bazar Operation: Camp Level:  229 WASH facilities, 100 public spaces and infrastructures and 4680 ft drainage network disinfected with chlorine solution at Camp 13 & 18.  8014 pcs cloth made mask distributed in collaboration with Swedish Red Cross at Camp 18.  In the month of August 2020, number of people reached through different services in camp 13 and camp 18 in Cox's Bazar.
b )  physical distancing: respondents demonstrated an understanding of the instructions but found them difficult to follow; c )  staying at home: followed mostly by housewives and students, most workers leave the house every day; no urban rural difference in habits and places visited outside of the home was observed bank, market/bazar/shop, medicine store/pharmacy and workplace ) ; d )  individual risk perception: respondents understood the role of individual risk but identified the fight against the spread of the disease to be above all a collective effort.
[ 1 October, Bangladesh ]  Since March, the country's RT PCR labs have tested 19,59,075 samples – 11,410 in the last 24 hours – and 18.63 percent have turned out to be positive. The daily infection rate for Thursday was 13.20 percent.
German RC Cox's Bazar Operation: Host Community:  04 WASH facilities and 03 public spaces and infrastructures disinfected at Baharchara Union of Teknaf Upazila where 19 trained and equipped RCY volunteers were engaged.  15 pcs soap bars distributed to 01 COVID 19 suspected referral household. Besides, 16 HHs  ( 99 people )  reached in the same community through hygiene promotion and handwashing messages, IEC materials, household disinfectant 0.1% clorine water  ( 500ml ) , self disinfection items  ( 01 pair gloves & kitchen sponge )  at Baharchara Union of Teknaf Upazila as part of emergency preparedness and response activity  Signboard installed at 20 schools about handwashing station. 01 batch RCY Volunteers training on COVID 19 tailored awareness on hygiene behavior and handwashing with soap completed.
Swedish Red Cross: 15,595 feet drainage cleaning and disinfection conducted during this reporting period.  2,080 households covered with intensified hand washing session and demonstration, including access to IEC materials.  18,598 soap bars distributed among community peoples to encourage proper hand washing as part of the response.  22 religious leaders received orientation on COVID 19 pandemic as part of COVID 19 awareness.
Swedish Red Cross: 7,000,000  ( around )  liters of chlorinated water distributed among community  ( through piped network and tap stands )  to meet regular demands of water supply and encourage peoples to wash their hands with running water.  Orientation sessions arranged for the community volunteers working within the construction team in camp 18 on intensified handwashing and key protective measures.  The doughnut chart is representing the Cox's Bazar camp level disinfectant status
 In collaboration with IFRC, BDRCS screened and triaged 177 patients at the Isolation & Treatment Center in Camp 2E. 58 thereof where referred to the closes sentinel testing sites. 2 COVID 19 positive patients were admitted to the facility and given teratment.
Swiss Red Cross: PPE distributed to either Isolation & Treatment Center, 3 PHCs or 3 Palongkhali level health facilities: 17 face shields, 2 sponge mops, 6,000 gloves, 12 waste bins, 15 heavy duty gloves, 15 gum boots, 139 bottles of hand rub, 9 hand washing liquids, 3 jars of chlorine solution, 1,298 napkin rolls, 24 soap bars, 8,250 masks, 6 empty sprayer bottles, 45 gowns, 3 buckets.  Support IOM COVID Dispatch & Referral Unit with 1 ambulance has continued.
Turkish Red Crescent:  21 meeting on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstream  ( AGDM )  organized for girls, women, PwDs, UACs, elderly people and pregnant women to bring them into the mainstreaming program to include their voice at FDMNs setting.  16 small scale sessions conducted at HHs level on how to stay safe from COVID 19 contamination.  5 meetings with the inter sectors staff and 10 meetings with volunteers of CiC/SMS/agencies were held to integrate the PGI approach in order to ensure maximum preventive and protective support to FDMNs.  2 orientation organized for 24 community volunteers on protective measures focusing the risks factors to avoid COVID 19 contamination.
10 small scale awareness sesssions conducted at HHs level on how to stay protected from virus through ensuring DAPS approach at communal camp setting.  98 families reached remotly to provide instant support in order to avoid furhtur harm in CP, GBV & PSEA considering the pandemic situation.  26 on site sessions conducted with stakehoders to ensure engagement of the community in community awareness activities
30 meetings organized for GoB, UN agencies and community leads focused on safety of the community during pandemic and how to ensure the protection from COVID 19.  1384 people were reached through 249 small scale sessions and campagine on COVID 19 messages. In addition, 122 people reached through 18 small scale sessions on managing panic and fear to stay safe from misconception during COVID19 pademic
UN Women used its social media platform to disseminate messages on the “shadow pandemic'   domestic violence as a consequence of COVID 19. Positive stories have been widely shared through social media to appreciate the work of people who are actively involved in the fight against COVID 19. UNICEF emphasizedthe role of religious leaders in message dissemination while WHO highlighted the work of midwives in the midst of the pandemic.
The same content reached about 3 million people in Barishal, more than 400,000 in Rangpur and 200,000 in Khulna divisions. The messages disseminated through various channels such as Regional Radio & Community Radios, Local cable networks/Dish lines, Billboards etc. Reginal radio  ( betar )  has been playing an important role in broadcasting daily spot, daily jingles, audio visual messages, talk shows and phone in program, public service announcements, message dissemination through religious leaders  ( union parishad ) , messages with adolescent club etc.
UNFPA is continuing to conduct its 4 day virtual Minimum Initial Service Package  ( MISP )  training, and on 28 June the third batch was rolled out. The MISP is a set of lifesaving activities that need to be implemented at the onset of every crisis to respond to the sexual and reproductive health needs of affected women and girls. Due to COVID 19, the training is held virtually. Furthermore, COVID 19 components have been integrated into the training sessions. So far, a total of 27 health care workers including midwives have completed the virtual MISP & COVID 19 training.
A webinar on “Gender Responsive Social protection in light of COVID 19 and Budget 2020 21' was organized on 24 June by the Gender Monitoring Network and UN Women, and was joined by more than 160 participants. The webinar revealed the lack of clarity of the government's strategy to expand social protection coverage to women in marginalized groups and in the informal economy who are the most vulnerable, and other issues. These observations will reinforce UN Women's advocacy messages to focus on marginalized women in the socio economic framework
On 25 June, the pillar sub group on GBV, co led by UN Women and UNFPA, held a consultation on GBV with 40 representatives from NGOs to reach consensus on areas of intervention within the socioeconomic recovery framework. Critical focus areas agreed upon include strengthening advocacy to influence policy decisions on GBV including access to justice and budgeting, and to ensure a specific focus on the most vulnerable group including sex workers.
UNFPA conducted a one day virtual GBV training on remote case management to caseworkers and managers, social mobilization officers, project coordinators and district officers – a total of 90 participants   in the COVID 19 affected districts of Jamalpur, Patuakhali and Bogura. UNFPA also contextualized three key critical GBV intervention in emergency tools in line with IASC and WHO set standards: a guideline on GBV case management in COVID 19 context, a guideline on GBV remote referrals during COVID 19 outbreak, and a guideline for dignity kits distribution during COVID 19 situation for GBV actors in Bangladesh.
CARE's GBV response intervention reached 24,824 women, girls, men and boys with GBV case reporting/ referral information and GBV awareness messages, in Dhaka  ( North City Corporation, Dhamrai, Savar ) , Gazipur, Mymensing, Cox's Bazar, Kurigram, Patukhali and Sirajgonj. Inthe Khulna division  ( Chitalmari and Mehendiganj upazilas ) , WFP with IFPRI through its Mother and Child Benefit Programme contributes to GBV risk mitigation by ensuring food and nutritional security to poor pregnant and lactating mothers
[ 1 October, Bangladesh ]  Of the total victims  [ Death due to covid  ] , 4,079 are men and 1,193 are women. Of the latest victims, 20 are above 50 years of age and another is aged between 41 and 50 years.
To date, 14 SARI ITCs are established with a total of 946 beds. Of these, 512 are ready to receive patients and another 453 are in place and held on standby.
242 confirmed COVID 19 cases in the refugee camps, and 4,440 cases in the host community. 43 Rohingya refugees in quarantine who were in contact with a COVID19 suspected or confirmed case, and 917 host community members.
As the pandemic has highlighted, vulnerability in one set of areas – for example in the limited access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and low access to social protection schemes among the country's urban poor – directly increases vulnerability in others areas – for example, the higher exposure of these same populations to infectious diseases and deeper economic shocks have cause so many to fall back into poverty.
In Bangladesh, the pandemic has placed an enormous strain on the country's limited health infrastructure, plunged millions into poverty, and interrupted the country's trajectory of economic growth and climate change adaptation and mitigation. The situation has been worsened by the impact of Cyclone Amphan and prolonged floods
The loss of livelihoods brought about by the crisis is in a vicious feedback loop with slowing demand. The decreased purchasing power of the large number of 'newly poor' – including those whose jobs have been lost to falling international demand, has reduced domestic demand for many products.
The COVID 19 crisis has caused a particularly distressing drop in access to maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health and nutrition, family planning and immunization services, threatening progress on maternal and new born health indicators that were already stagnating before the pandemic.
Canadian Red Cross: • 754 patients attended at Health post in Cox's Bazar camp through screening process of COVID 19. • Awareness raising and hand hygiene communication conducted in Health Post of Camp 8W, Cox's Bazar. • CRC supported Community health volunteers made 3564 household visit in Camp 5 and camp 8W. • CHVs disseminated COVID 19 messages to 3502 individuals. • Conducted 217 Health sessions.
Nutrition: • Develop and promote a comprehensive multisectoral costed Food and Nutrition Security Response Plan. • Strengthen a multi sectoral accountability system including monitoring, evaluation and surveillance.
Education: • Help develop a national strategy and guidelines for safe school reopening and operation. • Integrate digitalized education/ technology based approaches into education plans and delivery
Food Security : • Provide food security support to urban households in quarantine, and those who have lost jobs  ( including micro entrepreneur set ups )  through direct cash transfers and expanded food packages. • Provide more inclusive and adaptive livelihoods support to food producers at farm, household, local farmer and market levels to strengthen climate resilient food production and continuity from rural to urban areas.
A 4 days training on Water and Sanitation in Health care facilities Improvement Tool  ( WASH FIT )  has been completed for 104 health care workers from 105 health facilities this year.
Bangladesh's first case of COVID 19 was reported on 8 May 2020. Since then, the number of cases has risen steadily and, by 22 August 2020', the country had 2,90,360 confirmed cases and 3,861 death . The Government declared a general holiday from 26 March to 30 May, closing government offices and non essential businesses, and restricting movements. These measures have now lifted, but economic activities remain subdued.
As discussed under Pillar I, the urgent need to ramp up health services in response to the COVID 19 outbreak has mobilized health systems around the pandemic. The Government's response is providing vital care to COVID 19 patients while helping to slow down the spread of the disease.
Micronutrient deficiencies present a huge challenge to Bangladesh, with economic losses due to malnutrition estimated at USD 1 billion per year. The fall in household incomes along with missed meals can also accelerate risks of primary school dropout that, in turn, can lead to early and child marriage with its attendant health, educational, economic and gender based violence risks
The crisis has also triggered violence against women and girls, while the pandemic is likely to upend ongoing efforts to end child marriage . Estimates predict that, due to the COVID 19 crisis, 200 million fewer cases of gender based violence will be addressed by 2030, a reduction of about one third in progress in ending gender based violence by that year
Women and girls are likely to become more food insecure and to have poorer nutritional indicators than males in the same household. Domestic work is increasing for both women and men, but the burden of unpaid childcare work is increasing much more substantially for mothers and female caretakers
As health systems' shift focus to the COVID 19 response, there is a short term risk of increasing the morbidity and mortality from other illnesses due to the disruption in the delivery of more routine services and longer term risks of undermining the health of a significant number of Bangladeshis and losing hard won progress that has been achieved in health sector in recent years.
Location matters, in that social distance and access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene are limited for residents of poor urban settlements, while residents of climate vulnerable districts must contend with simultaneous disasters.
The pandemic has also decreased utilization of essential services as a result of fear of exposure, loss of income and reduced mobility. Rates of inpatient, outpatient and emergency health service utilization declined dramatically during April and May 2020.The longer term economic effects of the pandemic have the potential to depress the utilization of public essential health, nutrition and population services by the poor well beyond the immediate crisis.
The COVID 19 pandemic is disrupting the delivery of essential and lifesaving health services. As the health system has rapidly shifted its focus towards the COVID19 response, the supply of all other health and nutrition services has suffered.
The Cox's Bazar COVID 19 Special Hub comprising five MSUs with an area of 1280 m2 and temperature controlled storage with an area of 370 m2 , is now open for all humanitarian agencies. It has been handed over to Handicap InternationalAtlas Logistique. The hub received four consignments including oxygen and PPE items  ( gowns and surgical masks )  from three partners including Food for the Hungry  ( FH ) , World Food Programme  ( WFP )  and Humanity & Inclusion  ( HI )
The Government of Bangladesh has taken many steps to respond to the disruption in health and nutrition services, from publishing protocols and guidelines, to the provision of medical and other supplies and equipment, to the augmentation of telemedicine services and public awareness campaigns
The COVID 19 pandemic is anticipated to have serious long term impacts on nutrition risks and service delivery. With the existing high prevalence of undernutrition in the country in both urban and rural areas, the impact of COVID19 on nutritional status is likely to have immediate and long term effects, especially among infants and young children and pregnant and lactating women, as both quantity and quality of services are observed to have declined as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Lancet medical journal estimates that if there is a further reduction in health services in Bangladesh, more than 28,000 children under the age of five could die within the next six months as an indirect result of the pandemic in the worst case scenario. Wasting, a severe form of malnutrition, would be a significant contributory factor to such under five deaths
Gender inequality has resulted in the unique health needs of women and girls, including pre  and post natal health care and sexual and reproductive health and rights services not being prioritized during the crisis.
. To reinforce health systems during the crisis, the Government has recruited 5,000 nurses and 2,000 doctors15, and plans to recruit 3,000 medical technologists and technicians16. COVID 19 diagnostic capacities have been expanded in 84 laboratories, where thousands of cartridges for COVID 19 diagnostics test have been deployed.
[ 4th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  According to DGHS, as of 03 January 2021, there are 10,495 general beds in the country of which 31.1%  ( 3,269 )  in Dhaka city and 602 ICU of which 51.5%  ( 310 )  in Dhaka city dedicated for COVID 19 treatment. Presently 20.6% of the general beds and 47.0% ICU beds are occupied all over the country.
[ 19 25th Oct 2020, Cox's Bazar ]   [ Resulted from COVID 19 ] Two weeks data shows that 77% of the children were born at home  ( Total=2134 )  and 72% did not receive BCG vaccine within 14 days after birth. Of these children, 71% were partially vaccinated and 7% unvaccinated  ( total=2144 ) . Among their families, 37% were not aware of the importance of immunization, in 28% of the cases the child was sick, 19% feared COVID 19 and the remaining were not informed of immunization.
[ 12th Jan 2021, Bangladesh ]  The field personnel launched an awareness campaign to advise the beneficiaries as to washing hands regularly with soap and water, given the fact that hands are the most common medium transmitting the virus from person to person.
[ 29 30 Mrach 2021, Cox's Bazar ]  Considering future risks of fire, damages, and loss from such disasters, essential fire safety measures and regular coordination between site management officials and the relevant sectors are important to be included in the response planning. The summer heat and humidity are big challenges while ensuring good health and hygiene among the refugees, volunteers and humanitarian workers on the ground.
WHO in partnership with UNHCR conducted a survey across all Rohingya camps on three major issues: knowledge and understanding of COVID 19, mask use and attitudes towards testing for the virus. 718 community members were interviewed, and their opinions and viewpoints will help WHO shape the COVID19 strategy to overcome existing barriers for prevention, including wearing masks and testing.
In the reporting period, 1416 community health workers  ( CHWs )  were trained on Enhanced Community Based Surveillance and HomeBased Care to provide counselling on testing, quarantine and referring patients to isolation facilities. CHWs also conducted 12 9865 household visits in which 2582 patients were identified with mild respiratory symptoms  ( fever, sore throat, cough )  and five patients with moderate/severe symptoms. The cumulative number of mild patients is 25 407, and 121 moderate/ severe patients. Of these, 12 010 persons with COVID symptoms were referred to health facilities.
This significant and innovative contribution to Bangladesh forms part of a USD 25 million global allocation from CERF to support front line NGOs life saving health and water and sanitation responses outlined in the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID 19. This exceptional multi country allocation is being channeled to NGOs at the country level, with the administrative support from the International Organization for Migration.
IPC supportive supervision was conducted at eight health care facilities  ( camps 3, 20, 20 Extension, 22 and23 )  as part of the ongoing IPC support for COVID 19 and routine health care delivery. Since early September, 27 health facilities have been visited in 12 camps.
Eighty health care workers from 53 health facilities completed a 4 days training on Water and Sanitation in Health care facilities Improvement Tool  ( WASH FIT ) . The training included field visits and assessment with participants drawing action plans for improvements in general IPC, WASH, health care waste management at their respective facilities delivering essential health services. The WASH FIT assessment started in September aiming to cover all health facilities in the camps
Another 49 090 people were engaged in 9498 communication sessions conducted by religious leaders. Additionally, 251 526 Rohingya refugees received COVID 19 key messages through 12 902 community consultation meetings. And finally, 5291 community people participated in 701 group sessions and watched 437 videos about the new virus.
WHO continues to provide epidemiological data to support operational decision making for the COVID 19 response in Cox's Bazar. As of 13 September 2020, a total of 4254 individuals from the host community in Cox's Bazar district have tested positive for COVID 19: 444 in Chokoria, 345 in Teknaf, 258 in Maheshkhali, 2185 in Sadar, 447 in Ukhiya, 307 in Ramu, 170 in Pekua and 98 in Kutubdia.
As part of strengthening IPC interventions in the host community, WHO has trained health care workers in seven Upazilas. This week, 24 healthc are professionals of Kutubdia UHC completed IPC training for COVID 19. So far, 7 out of 8 Upazilas have received this dedicated training reaching 147 government staff at UHCs.
Among host communities, 18 094 people participated in 4377 community awareness meetings and 19 168 participated in 40 listener group sessions on COVID 19.
As of 13 September 2020, a total of 180 COVID 19 cases among Rohingya/FDMN have been reported: three cases from Kutupalong RC, six from camp 1E, seven from camp 1W, seven from camp 2E, 20 from camp 2W, 14 from camp 3, eight from camp 4, two from Camp Extension, three in camp 5, 14 from camp 6, eight from camp 7, two from camp 8E, two from camp 8W, five from camp 9, five from camp 10, two from camp 11, two from camp 12, one from Camp 13, two from camp 14, 18 from camp 15, seven from camp 16, one from camp 17, two from camp 18, two from camp 19, one from Camp 20,five from Nayapara RC, two from camp 21, two from camp 22, one from camp 23, 18 from camp 24, two from camp 25, four from camp 26, two from camp 27
The Central Emergency Response Fund  ( CERF )  has today allocated a USD 3 million grant to three national NGOs  ( BRAC, Friendship, Reaching People in Need )  and two international NGOs,  ( Save the Children and World Vision )  working on the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh. The grants range from USD 125,000 to 845,000 and will help to address the most pressing health and water, sanitation and hygiene needs in the COVID 19 response
All 19 Points of Entry  ( PoE )  sites continue to screen for fever and enforce hand washing at strategic locations in the camps. Temperature screeners, educators and WASH volunteers are working together to educate, refer and sensitize the Rohingya, host community and humanitarian workers entering the camps. As of 13 September 2020, over 400 000 individuals have been screened at the PoE across the camps.
NCDs: WHO is supporting NCD services to increase prevention, early detection and treatment following the disruption on essential health services imposed by COVID 19 during the second quarter of 2020, through a partnership with James P Grant School of Public Health.
SRH: a supportive visit was conducted at Leda Drop in Centre  ( DIC )  as part of raising awareness on the impact of COVID 19 on reproductive health services for those most at risk of HIV infection.
Since the beginning of August 2020, 106 health care workers across Cox's Bazar district received trainings on WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable  ( PEN )  in four batches. The fifth batch started on 13 September 2020 with 26 participants.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre  ( FFWC ) , the situation is expected to worsen in north west and central Bangladesh over the coming days, with a likely peak on 18 July.
The volume of relief and food aid distributed by individuals and private organizations among the flood victims is significantly reduced this year due to COVID 19 outbreak.
[  9th  15th October 2020, Cox's Bazar ]   In addition to supporting with contact tracing and coordination of services to COVID affected households, SMSD Sector partners screened 69,832 people for COVID 19  symptoms and referred 18 people to health facilities.
The Logistics Sector in partnership with HI Atlas transported 2118 m3  ( 1131 mt )  of relief items for 12 organisations including UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs, where 308 trucks were used.
Results of the report reveal that 62% of the interviewed households indicated limited access to basic food supplies due to affordability challenges. Access to adequate water and sanitation remains a challenge which increases the risk of malnutrition and the spread of the diseases, including COVID 19. The stress on families related to loss of income, lack of school, change of children's behaviour and quarantine measures contributes to children experiencing physical punishment and emotional abuse. In Bangladesh, over 33% of children are likely at risk of engaging in high risk activities or jobs to survive.
Bangladesh authorities should immediately move over 300 Rohingya refugees, including at least 33 children, from the silt island of Bhasan Char to the Cox's Bazar refugee camps to be with their families, Human Rights Watch said today.
The authorities said that the rescued refugees needed to be temporarily quarantined on Bhasan Char to protect against the spread of Covid 19 in the crowded camps. However, more than two months later, the refugees remain on the island, at risk of flooding and storms during the current monsoon season, despite calls from UN Secretary General António Guterres and humanitarian experts to safely return them to the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.
Families in Cox's Bazar told Human Rights Watch that relatives on Bhasan Char are being held without freedom of movement or adequate access to food or medical care, and face severe shortages of safe drinking water. Some refugees have alleged that they were beaten and ill treated by Bangladesh authorities on the island.
In June, 655 m3 of relief items were received into common storage on behalf of seven organisations making it a total of 4260 m3 of relief items stored on behalf of 19 organisations in Madhu Chara, Balukhali, Unchiprang, Teknaf and COVID19 Special Hub in Cox's Bazar district.
The second sea shipment for interagency COVID 19 related cargo was received at Madhu Chara Logistics Hub from Kuala Lumpur. Beside the Logistics Sector, cargo recipients include WFP and IOM. • Ten data logger were loaned out to UNICEF, and two sets of MSUs which are being used as Isolation Centres in Ramu Cantonment were loaned out to the Army. • A total of 80 litres of hand sanitiser was distributed to two organisations to facilitate office hygiene and staff wellbeing.
Similarly, as for the still on going recovery response to Cyclone Amphan, the COVID 19 pandemic context put further challenges to disaster and recovery efforts in particular the respect of physical distancing measures and the fear of getting infected in emergency shelters.
In 2020, the training started with a TOT at national level in January that reached 145 humanitarian workers and government staff. Supportive supervision has so far been conducted at 22 Primary Health care facilities reaching 68 staff. In addition to several interventions instituted by partners to support staff, humanitarian workers during the pandemic, telemedicine avenues have been utilized that link all mhGAP trainees to support continuing professional development
Daily distribution of COVID 19 related items to government agencies and implementing partners continue. WHO provided two dedicated vehicles to the IEDCR Field laboratory. Additional two vehicles are part of the Dispatch and Referral Unit  ( DRU )  fleet pool for ambulance support transportation of mild COVID 19 patients.WHO made an inventory of medical supplies at preposition containers in refugee camp locations to fill existing gaps, and revised the Bill of Quantity  ( administration steps )  at the IEDCR laboratory in Medical College for further proceedings in lab extension
WHO continues to support the Field Laboratory of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research  ( IEDCR )  in the Cox's Bazar Medical College comprising human resources, equipment, supplies/consumables and technical and operational expertise. From early April until 13 September 2020, a total of 41 569 tests for COVID 19 have been conducted in the laboratory, of which 35 362 from Cox's Bazar district. The remainder are from Bandarban and Chittagong districts. In the past week  ( 07 13 September 2020 ) , the number of tests conducted among the FDMN community continued to increase with 1485 tests as compared to 1385 in the previous week. Similarly, an increase in testing per million was observed among the host community in the same timeframe, from 459 to 658.
Routine immunization: sessions continue, both fixed and outreach, WHO continues to provide guidance regarding the operation and sustaining of immunization programs in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. Coverage data shows an increasing trend but due to lack of follow up and social mobilization, immunization remains low among Rohingya refugees. VPD surveillance is being closely monitored by government authorities with WHO's support. SIMOs and Health field monitors  ( HFMs )  continue visiting health facilities for surveillance, monitoring and investigation while contributing to the National AFP & VPD surveillance system. WHO is ensuring visits to thirteen very high priority sites and 38 high priority, weekly and bi weekly respectively. During such visits, two suspected AFP cases and measles cases were investigated by WHO SIMOs.
On 1 2 July, rainfalls and thunderstorms are forecast over north and east Bangladesh. Water levels are expected to rise further over the coming days.
As of 25 October 2020, 13 454 Rohingya refugees have been tested against COVID 19 and 310 were positive. WHO has also provided COVID 19 biosafety and Infection Prevention and Control trainings to 269 health care workers currently supporting sample collection and transportation.
A 5 day forecast by Bangladesh's Flood Forecast and Warning Centre  ( FFWC )  has also confirmed the severity of the floods. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society is implementing early actions with forecast based funds from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies  ( IFRC )  to protect the lives, property and livelihoods of more than 16,500 people most at risk in three districts: Kurigram, Gaibandha and Jamalpur. The compounding effects of COVID 19 and the floods could be devastating and this funding is crucial to reducing the impact as much as possible.
A qualitative review of messages posted to Bangladesh's three largest public COVID 19 Facebook groups illustrates that health officials, COVID 19 patients, religious minorities, and government actors are frequently the subject of on line attacks. Violent extremist channels on YouTube have taken the opportunity to mobilize against public health measures and propagate divisive narratives
Prior to the pandemic, serious child protection risks were present in the Rohingya refugee camps, including violence, child labor, child marriage, exploitation and abuse.
Increased Violence Against Children: There are increased violence against children in the refugee camps, with children witnessing or experiencing violence in the home due to heightened stress, reduced resources and lack of support services. This can have enormous negative impacts on children's mental health and well being. Children particularly girls, face greater risk of sexual and gender based violence, including rape and domestic abuse due to limited oversight and reduced avenues to report during COVID 19.
The Child Protection Sub Sector ( CPSS )  receives weekly updates from all 34 refugee camps from Child Protection Focal Points, indicating an increase in child protection risks.
With services scaled back and a reduced humanitarian footprint to prevent the spread of COVID 19, children are experiencing unintended and adverse effects with protection risks now heightened.
Finally, people's right to seek justice has been drastically limited during the crisis. The effects of the pandemic have brought a wave of legal complaints related to the non  payment of salaries, loss of jobs, retrenchments, domestic violence, bankruptcies, and complaints related to alleged violations committed by law enforcement agencies and health sector officials.
Compared to May, egg prices have increased by up to 20 percent following recovery of the poultry market, after COVID 19 transmission rumours affected it at the early stages of the crisis.
While food availability in the markets remains stable, economic access by households is the major concern. Purchasing power dropped by 42 percent in June compared to pre crisis period. As household incomes continue to fall, or unavailable altogether for some, a shift in dietary patterns is evident with many households favouring less preferred or cheaper foods, with low nutritional value. A compromise on healthy diets makes the population more vulnerable to the current pandemic.
Movement restrictions threatens to disrupt agricultural activities, through labour shortages and high input costs, which could lead to acreage contractions and low yields in future, exacerbating vulnerabilities.
Purchasing power erosion remains the greatest challenge many households are grappling with. • Overall, households purchasing power has dropped by 42 percent in June considering current verses usual income levels. Currently, with a day's income, a household in Cox's Bazar can buy about 9 kg of rice, a drop from 15 kg of rice that could be bought from usual precrisis income.
Anecdotally, reduced income earning opportunities could be driving up sell and/or exchange of portions of assistance, to support access to other food and non food items. • There's an increased demand on the local markets for fresh food items, mainly fruits, vegetables, fish, and chicken, following suspension of WFP's farmers markets and fresh food corners in the retail outlets. However, supply remains low, as local producers struggle to keep up with the demand.
As lockdown measures and effects continue to permeate daily lives and livelihoods of the local population, the need for strengthening social protection programs remains high. • Support for income and food access remains priority needs of the affected populations.
UNHCR's partners completed the production of 200,000 cloth face masks with refugee and host community women as part of a livelihoods project. These masks are also being fed into the ongoing distribution of masks in the camps.
Mask production training for the community by the COMs continues with an enthusiastic response. Refugees are eager to learn new skills and find the mask production relevant and useful for their daily life. Since the initiative started at the end of May, over 4,300 training sessions were conducted reaching 9,500 refugees. This resulted in over 6,700 masks being made by community members. In addition to the masks the community is making, UNHCR has completed 22% of its planned distribution of masks across the camps it manages to approximately 91,000 households
Community outreach ongoing ■Community level outreach with 146,000 refugees reached with messages on COVID 19 ■9,115 support visits to older refugees
Until now the treatment of COVID 19 cases in the camps has been managed on site in health facilities that UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies have established in the District. UNHCRsupported Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( SARI ITCs )  and an Intensive Care Unit in the Cox's Bazar District hospital have provided over 280 patients from the refugee settlements and the host community with support and care for COVID 19 to date. As of 31 August, over 200 patients have been successfully treated and discharged.
UNHCR and community based protection partners continue to work with the refugee community to conduct awareness raising sessions on COVID 19 prevention and response in the refugee camps. Cumulatively since March, UNHCR supported Community Outreach Members  ( COMs )  have reached some 146,000 refugees with key messages on COVID 19. A group of 248 COMs are dedicated to supporting older persons and to date have conducted 9,115 support visits. The restoration of internet services in the camps which took place on 28 August is expected to offer more opportunities to communicate with the refugee community through audio messages.
Other simulations estimate that the pandemic could result in entry/re entry of as many as 42mn people into poverty. 25 30% reductions noticed in food expenditures of poor urban households as employment opportunities for poor, urban informal sector workers were significantly curtailed.50% households could not access minimally acceptable levels of food consumption during the initial stages of the Covid 19 lockdown.Increased rate of gender based violence.
School closures have resulted in the loss of over 30 per cent of the school year17. This has affected the education of almost 42 million students18 in Bangladesh, impeding all aspects of child and adolescent development and undermining longterm human capital development. The longer schools are closed, the greater the risks that children will lose knowledge and that gains in school completion rates will be lost to dropouts, especially among girls and children from socio economically marginalized families.
Since 14 May when the first COVID 19 positive case was detected in the camps just over 100 refugees have been confirmed with COVID19, and 6 have died. UNHCR is operating two Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( SARI ITCs )  with 194 beds and an ICU ward that offers treatment for refugees and the host community. So far, over 280 patients have received treatment in UNHCRsupported facilities. To date, there has been sufficient capacity for responding to confirmed cases and offering treatment.
[ 1 October, Bangladesh ]  Bangladesh's confirmed coronavirus tally reached 363,479 on Wednesday after the health authorities recorded 1,436 new cases in the past 24 hours until morning.
[ 1 October, Bangladesh ]  Thirty two new deaths  [ COVID ]  were also recorded, pushing up the fatalities to 5,251
The COVID 19 pandemic is impacting the poorest and most vulnerable in Bangladesh with the greatest severity. The extreme and moderate poor were hardest hit by the two month long general lockdown, suffering an average of three quarters loss in income and the attendant consequences in access to health care and nutrition along with disproportionate impacts on education, protection and employment1
Children in rural areas and from the poorest households are much less likely to have access to television  ( 44 per in rural areas vs. 75 per cent in urban areas ) , internet  ( 30 per cent in rural areas, and 7 per cent of the poorest quintile ) , or computers  ( 3 per cent in rural areas ) . Children with disabilities have a greater likelihood of having underlying health conditions and being excluded from distance learning activities. The closure of schools has exacerbated multidimensional poverty risks for the poorest people in Bangladesh, disrupting school feeding programs and placing nearly three million children at risk of undernutrition.
91,371 Number of refugee households who are being supported with cooking kits and Liquified Petroleum Gas  ( LPG )  cylinders in the camps; 10,716 families in host communities were also being supported with cooking kits and LPG.
[ 1 October, Bangladesh ]  During the last 24 hours, 1,789 patients recovered  [ from COVID ] , taking the number of recoveries to 275,487. Currently, there are 82,741 active cases in the country.
Increased Child Marriage: Loss of household income, limited education opportunities and reduced protection mechanisms increase the risk of child marriage during COVID 19. Some community members are taking advantage of vulnerable.
In response to COVID 19 pandemic, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society  ( BDRCS )  has been continuing its emergency operation since March 2020. As an auxiliary to the Government of Bangladesh  ( GoB ) , BDRCS supports government efforts to COVID 19 pandemic. BDRCS has been operating these emergency response actions across the country by utilizing its volunteer network. Based on country context, BDRCS identified immediate health and non health needs of vulnerable population of the country. In order to fulfill those priority needs, BDRCS prepared an emergency response plan of action.
To implement the strategy, the United Nations Country Team  ( UNCT )  is switching to an emergency mode to focus its efforts on maintaining essential lifesaving health services, and scaling up and expanding resilient and climate responsive social protection systems. These include including essential food and nutrition, water and sanitation, education and protection services, with a focus on infants, children, women, the ultra poor, informal settlement dwellers, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, climate and disaster victims, and other vulnerable populations.
The COVID 19 crisis has had enormous repercussions for poverty in Bangladesh. The country will have 16.4 million new poor in 2020 according to a study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies  ( BIDS ) 8. Some simulations estimate that the pandemic could result in the entry or re entry of as many as 42 million people into poverty in Bangladesh, undoing the decade long gains in poverty reduction.
Girls' education and development will be significantly affected as they are likely to do more household work and risk being subjected to violence. Sequestered at home, girls are at increased risk of gender based violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse, without access to the psychosocial support that schools can provide. Adolescent girls are also at increased risk of being married and becoming pregnant, both of which will inhibit their re entry into schools and life choices.
[ 1 October, Bangladesh ]  Across the country, 14,858 people are now in isolation and 43,130 in quarantine.
COVID 19 testing in the camps has increased in recent weeks. On average, during the reporting period, there have been close to 115 tests conducted daily in the camps. Increased testing is largely due to the work of refugee Community Health Volunteers  ( CHW )  who are engaged in communitybased surveillance and provide targeted counselling on testing to refugees identified with COVID like symptoms.
In addition, 250 persons identified with specific needs under UNHCR's health programs have received one off cash payments of the same amount. The cash is to assist families in the local community during the COVID 19 period due to the impact the situation has had on local livelihoods. These communities have generously supported the refugee response in Cox's Bazar over many years.
UNHCR has completed a cash distribution for local Bangladeshi host community households through three partners. Some 5,200 local Bangladeshi households out of a target of 6,000 households have so far each received 4,500 Bangladesh Taka  ( approximately US$ 53 ) .
Similarly, COVID 19 has exacerbated the vulnerability of people to climate change and disasters, not only because several disaster events occurred during the pandemic, but also because of the erosion of people's ability to absorb shocks and manage multiple disruptions at the same time