nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
This week, a new SARI ITC opened in the camps, bringing it to a toal of 13 SARI ITCs with a capacity of 490 beds that were active and receiving patients. The Health Sector, with the support of WHO, continued case management and infection prevention and control  ( IPC )  trainings for humanitarian and health workers in all upazilas5 , and have so far trained 102 humanitarian and healthcare workers in five upazilas
Due to COVID 19, learning activities have been suspended since mid March, but UNHCR and its partners have been working with parents and caregivers to enable them to better support their children through at home learning initiatives with the dissemination of caregiver led guidelines for both parents and children
The loss in income and consequent reduction in food expenditures is also manifested in the frequency of meal consumption at the household level. Prior to the crisis, 9 out of 10 households reported eating 3 meals/day under. At present, the proportion of households consuming 3 meals a day has reduced to 6 out of 10 households
In collaboration with BARD College, a five day mentorship training was facilitated for 25 master trainers, and the program has continued virtually after closure of learning facilities. These mentors will act as co facilitators and translators in a ten month certified teacher training program.
In June 2020, around 9 out of 10 households used consumption based coping strategies to deal with food shortages, seven days prior to the survey. The most common consumption based copings were reliance on less preferred/expensive foods  ( 83 percent of households ) . Others were reduced number of meals, borrowing food and limiting portion size The high adoption of less preferred/less expensive foods points to severity of the crisis on households' food security, with high likelihood of a compromise on intake of nutritious diets. This would lead to weakened immune systems increasing susceptibility to diseases.
CwC WG partners organized 32 cascade training sessions on COVID 19 with 63 staff and volunteers
Through its representation mission in Bangladesh, QRCS is working on other activities to reduce the spread of the virus in refugee camps. Until the end of June, these operations benefited 53,511 persons, with a total budget of $157,000.
Refugee families received health education about preventive and healthy practices. In collaboration with BDRCS, 5,000 food baskets were distributed to the families affected by the lockdown in many Upazila
July 25th , 2020 ― Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society  ( QRCS )  has completed the construction and furnishing of an isolation facility inside the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies'  ( IFRC )  largest field hospital, operated by QRCS and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society  ( BDRCS )  at Refugee Camp #7 in Cox's Bazar, southern Bangladesh
All the resources and capabilities of QRCS's health care centers at refugee camps  ( health center at Camp #19, health center at Camp E8, and field hospital at Camp #7 )  were summoned, ready for action in case of any emergency. The medical and other personnel at health centers were trained in how to deal with the patients and protect against infection.
Top five ways households supplement food rations  ( 215 responses ) †Borrow food or rely on help from friends/relatives 60% Eat smaller portions 33% Reduce number of meals eaten in a day 21% Go to a different market in the allotted time to get extra rations18% Eating less diverse food 10% Have sufficient food 18%
QRCS works closely with BDRCS to secure the medical and protective supplies for the staff of camp bound health centers, such as masks, gloves, ventilators, sanitizers, oxygen tanks, etc.
[ October 2020, Bangladesh ]  Provide protective and hygiene equipment  ( masks, soap, hand sanitizer )  to poorer households who cannot afford it, including female sex workers and transgender persons in host communities.
Strict instructions were given to all the personnel under QRCS's interventions to follow the guidelines issued by the competent authorities to deal with the virus. The medical workers and volunteers were given masks, sanitizers, gloves, and other protective supplies.
The restrictive measures have impacted humanitarian programmes   many were reduced to critical services and assistance only with limited number of staff allowed to access the camps each day. This has negatively affected the accessibility and availability of many services.
Accessibility to health services and facilities is critical during the COVID 19 pandemic. Regardless of the efforts by the humanitarian community, recent qualitative studies have highlighted gaps in meeting the health needs of the refugee population due to perceptions surrounding the quality of health facilities and concerns surrounding trust and communication.
Reduction in consultations as well as reluctance of health workers to treat patients with COVID 19 symptoms, fear of stigma and rumors around COVID 19 were some of the issues that came up often during qualitative consultations with Rohingya refugees.
There is always a high degree of challenge in providing sufficient food for households and to meet dietary diversity and balanced nutrition. Moreover, due to loss of income generating activities as well as movement restrictions, it has become more difficult for the refugees to purchase additional food to supplement the quantity and diversity of food they receive through their assistance packages.
[ August, Bangladesh ]  Presently, WFP is providing food and nutrition assistance to approximately 860,000 refugees besides implementing a range of livelihood programmes for both the host and refugee communities.
[ August, Bangladesh ]  8,486 mt of food assistance distributed in August. US$ 12.3 million cash based transfers made.1.4 million people assisted in August 2020
Top three coping strategies to remain in good health and compensate for a lack of good facilities nearby  ( 244 responses ) : 1 Isolate within shelter  ( 57% )  2 Prayer  ( 57% )  3 Cutting down on other household necessities to buy medicine  ( 28% )
20% of respondents reported witnessing an increase in arguments in their family/household or neighborhood and shelter blocks in the last 30 days .36% of respondents reported movement restrictions currently
Twenty five health care workers were trained on COVID 19 sample collection and transportation. This is part of the weekly training to support efforts to increase capacity of sample collection in the camps. A total of 40 people been trained in the last two weeks.
[ August, Bangladesh ]  Since May, over 145,446 children have received micronutrient fortified biscuits at home, with distributions still ongoing. This includes 96,496 children in host communities in Cox's Bazar.
Type of health related issues faced by respondent or respondents household in their camp  ( 244 responses ) : Problems with functioning of heath facilities 57% Insufficient masks or PPE for households 28% Unable to seek treatment for non coronavirus issues 20% No health facility inside the camp 13% Unable to seek assistance for coronavirus symptoms 5% Movement restrictions between camps stopping access to facilities 2%
[ August, Bangladesh ]  In August, WFP provided food assistance to 854,483 refugees: 750,978 through e vouchers, and 103,505 through in kind food distributions. Of the 17 e voucher outlets, Building Blocks  ( a software based on blockchain technology )  is operational in eight outlets; the others still use SCOPE.
[ October 2020, Bangladesh ]   [ October 2020, Bangladesh ]  MHM has become more difficult during the pandemic due to delays in distribution of materials. Additionally, it has become much harder for women and girls to wash and dry their menstrual cloths due to taboos around menstruation. This has resulted in women and girls reusing wet menstrual cloths despite the risk of infections
[ August, Bangladesh ]  Mother and Child Benefit Programme: WFP provides technical support to this programme and is currently supporting the Government with the enrolment of beneficiaries into the mother and child benefit programme through self enrolment and an online verification process. In August, 34,782 women benefited from the programme in 23 upazilas
[ August, Bangladesh ]  The Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition  ( EFSN )  programme supports 10,000 people with a special focus on 2,000 women through income generating cash support, training and market linkages.
9 out of 10 households resorted to livelihood based coping strategies to meet both food and non food needs. Spending savings and buying food on credit were the widely adopted strategies, reported by 63 and 44 percent of households, respectively  ( Figure 23 ) . Adoption of livelihoods based copings by gender of household head shows slight variations: relatively more male headed households involved in spending savings and sell of jewelry, while more female head households involved in buying food on credit, reducing non food expenses and selling household goods
[ October 2020, Bangladesh ]  Ensure gender specific safety measures are taken around WASH facilities, including reducing crowding, providing sufficient light at night, locks, among other measures. Ensure availability of required equipment and facilities for persons with disabilities and older people to maintain hygiene prevention measures.
Households with infants  ( below 5 year of age ) , adolescents  ( 5 15 year of age ) , elderly member, disabled member and chronically ill member were positively associated with a higher use of negative coping strategies, plausibly highlighting the greater needs characterizing these households.
Almost 50% of the respondents reported having issues with the food that is distributed. When asked further about the type of problems with the food, a majority reported that the quantity of food is not sufficient. However, almost 92% of respondents reported they could access the market where they typically go to buy household and food items. Another concerning issue that came up were the use of negative coping mechanisms to supplement insufficient food quantities, such as, borrowing food, relying on help from friends and relatives  ( 60% ) , eating smaller portions  ( 34% )  and reducing the number of meals eaten per day  ( 21% )  which could create a cycle of debt as well as contribute to health risks
CwC WG partners organised COVID 19 awareness announcements via loudspeakers/megaphones in 21 camps. For receiving community feedback/complaints, 92 information service centres in the camps and 4 information service centres in the host community were operational. 5 new audio messages and 1 video on COVID 19 were developed by CwC WG partners.
Households with infants  ( below 5 year of age ) , adolescents  ( 5 15 year of age ) , elderly member, disabled member and chronically ill member were positively associated with a higher use of negative coping strategies, plausibly highlighting the greater needs characterizing these households. The major reasons for adoption of livelihoodbased coping strategies were for food and healthcare access, noted by 70 and 27 percent of respondents respectively
2,300 pregnant women are continuing to receive health and hygiene messages on audio bangles. Bangles have been an effective way of making sure that families continue to receive health tips without having to leave their homes
A workshop on the mask making initiative was held to finalize the plan for blanket coverage for all Rohingya households and targeted coverage for vulnerable Bangladeshi households in all upazilas with 2 reusable cloth masks per person. Health Sector and the Livelihood Working Group endorsed specifications for cloth masks and a second round of mask distributions in the camps. Training of trainers for female CwC volunteers were conducted to train 800 volunteers who will disseminate key messages at the household level in all 34 camps, beginning in September.
In a policy reversal, however, in May, a group of 306 refugees who were rescued at sea by authorities and who managed to disembark from another boat that had been bound for Malaysia were taken into custody by border authorities and transferred to Bhasan Char Island, where the Government first indicated that the move was a measure to curb the spread of COVID 19 and later stated that those on the Island would remain there until such time as they can return to Myanmar – this despite the fact that most have family members in the camps and that all services are available in Cox's Bazar
Most of the host community are not recipients of this food aid. This has thus reduced the purchasing power of the most vulnerable households, negatively impacting the quantity and quality of their diets
July 31, 2020  The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors today approved $202 million in additional financing for the Modern Food Storage Facilities Project to increase the storage capacity of Bangladesh's national strategic grain reserves by 535,500 tons for 4.5 million households.
[ 05 11th Oct 2020, Cox's Bazar ]  To date, 14 SARI ITCs are established with a total of 878 beds. Of these, 546 are ready to receive patients and another 327 are in place and held on standby. Five isolation facilities provide additional 72 beds. Also operational is the Intensive Care Unit/High Dependency Unit Facility at Sadar Hospital with ten ICU and eight HDU beds. Construction of SARI ITC sites is expected to be completed by November 2020 with three more facilities bringing 279 new beds to the overall count
The project has already helped to manufacture and distribute 500,000 household air  and water tight food containers  ( “household silos' )  to poor farmers and women headed vulnerable households in disaster prone coastal areas. This success has led the government to commit to further distribute silos to an additional 300,000 households.
The Office continues to await a formal response on possible access to the Island to assess their needs of over 300 refugees who were rescued at sea and initially placed on Bashan Char in May by authorities who indicated that the move was a measure to curb the risk of COVID 19.
Support for income and food access remain priority needs of the affected populations. 7 out of 10 households reported disruption on livelihood sources as the main concern, followed by travel restrictions and shortage of food
Protection Emergency Response Units  ( PERUs )  were activated in March and have been operational to support the COVID 19 response, identify protection gaps in the camps, coordinate delivery of protection services, and engage refugees in dissemination of important messaging.
As lockdown measures and effects continue to permeate daily lives and livelihoods of the local population, the need for strengthening social protection programs cannot be overemphasized. More importantly, greatest need remains in addressing disruption to livelihoods.
Households with a high number of dependents  ( dependency ration )  were also more likely to be highly vulnerable, both in pre crisis and under the current situation. This indicates that households with more earning members and alternative IGA's would be more protected from the harsher effects of the lockdown as opposed to a family with one earning member and one income source.
Access to markets to make quick fixes or to supplement the materials provided to them may not be possible at present due to restrictions on movements. Moreover, containment measures like physical distancing and isolation due to COVID 19 could contribute to already existing structural problems such as overcrowding  ( the shelters are small and shared by an average of 5 6 family members ) .
Household inclination towards buying cheaper food items  )  was mainly driven by two factors – the price increases on key staples and receipt of more basic foods such as rice and lentils through assistance. Market trends show that prices of basic foods across Cox's Bazar district had spiked from March through April, possibly due to the abrupt disruptions from the lockdown. This led to increasing cost of a typical food basket. However, the market prices started stabilizing towards pre crisis levels after May
Immediate NFI needs  ( 393 responses ) † Mosquito nets 88% Mat 74% Solar light 64% Umbrellas 61% Torch 38% Kitchen set 37% Fan 27% Blankets 27%
About 7 out of 10 households received assistance since 1st March 2020  ( Figure 26 ) . Assistance was primarily from two sources: government programs  ( 54 percent )  and Individual donors/community leaders  ( 38 percent ) . Of those who reported receiving assistance, 83 percent had not benefitted from any assistance before the crisis – indicating widespread initiation of assistance programs to cushion communities. Humanitarian actors' footprints in the urban settings appear minimal. More than 80 percent of the assistance received was in the form of food.
The “Dignity First' Kit has already been distributed among 3,000 women in the Dhaka South City Corporation area. It consists of 17 essential hygiene items, including six reusable sanitary napkins, three undergarments, two towels, three soaps, and one detergent soap.The kit is being distributed among women beneficiaries aged 14 to 49.
Top three difficulties when collecting LPG  ( 393 responses ) † 1 Distribution point is very far away  ( 57% )  2 Difficult to carry back to shelter  ( 29% )  3 Lack of communication on distribution date  ( 27% )
UNDP Bangladesh continues the distribution of cash and hygiene items to a total of 11,120 households in Cox's Bazar as the coastal district has been put under complete lockdown since April 8, 2020 due to COVID 19 pandemic.
[ 18th Aug 2020, Cox's Bazar ]  Since the establishment of active surveillance, on 18 August 2020, more AFP and measles cases were reported than in the first seven months of the year showing increase in surveillance sensitivity
The lockdown has impacted nearly everyone, but its impacts are particularly acute for people in poverty and daily wage earners.
Top 10 immediate shelter needs  ( 393 responses ) † Tarpaulin 89% Muli bamboo 84% Rope 69% Barok bamboo 63% Wire 48% Cement 31% Sand 22% Empty bags 19% Tools 16% CGI sheet/tin 9%
To the date, in coordination with the local administration, Taka 2,25,50,500 has been distributed among 6,443 local families in Cox's Bazar sadar, Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas, while a total of Taka 38,920,000 in cash assistance would have been distributed among 11,120 targeted vulnerable families in Cox's Bazar within August 30 next.
Floods have large social consequences for communities and individuals including children. The immediate impacts of flooding include loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, and deterioration of health conditions owing to waterborne diseases which broadly affected children in affected areas. Violence against children including adolescents and women has exponentially increased due to Monsoon flood to reach vulnerable populations particularly in ongoing COVID 19 situation
There is need to upscale child protection interventions and this requires resources to meet the needs of the vulnerable populations that have been affected by both floods and COVID 19.
In recent months the security environment in the camps has further deteriorated, with a marked increase in protection incidents and serious crimes such as robbery, intimidation, drug trafficking, arbitrary killing and arrest, murder, and abduction. In recent months, organized criminal gangs have been increasingly active in the camps in Ukhiya, including abduction for ransom, physical assault, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
Due to COVID 19 pandemic the schools are closed, and distribution of materials is restricted in some places. So partners are facing challenges to provide Education Kits to the flood affected children.
More than 2.6 million Bangladeshis and some 860,000 Rohingya refugees live in Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh. They are at their most vulnerable today, facing COVID 19 and the perils of the monsoon season.
Notably, the socio economic impact of COVID 19 is also having a negative impact on security; with petty crimes, inter and intra communal disputes rising, criminal groups expanding their spheres of control with relative impunity, and heightened risks of traffickers and smugglers preying on vulnerable refugees and host communities alike. SGBV, child protection cases and cases of intimate partner violence have also been exacerbated by the pandemic.
As part of the operational capacity building to enhance preparedness for COVID 19 in Cox's Bazar, WHO conducted a 4 day training for Infection Prevention and Control  ( IPC )  of COVID 19 with participants from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection  ( SARI )  ITC partners and Government facilities with ongoing direct and indirect support from WHO. So far, 567 government workers and 1320 humanitarian health care workers have been trained.
WHO continues to support partners as co facilitators on a cascade of trainings conducted remotely and onsite
Refugees are at the centre of preparedness planning and response; however, their role has become even more critical during the COVID 19 pandemic, with an 80 per cent reduction of humanitarian actors in the camps in order to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus. Teams of some 3,000 trained volunteer first responders have been leading their own communities and ensuring life saving measures.
The challenges during the response including:   Accessibility in the context of COVID 19.   More affected people than the beneficiary coverage.   Lack of support for recovery needs.Highlight challenges in meeting Priority Response actions as outlined in HCTT Response Plan   Noncompliance of FSC package
In mid April, UNHCR successfully advocated with the Government for the disembarkation of nearly 400 Rohingya refugees who were at risk of refoulement to Myanmar following a failed attempt to travel to Malaysia that forced them to return to Bangladesh. The refugees were accommodated at UNHCR's quarantine facilities, were provided with medical check and were transported to the camps after their 14 days of quarantine    illustrating that access to territory and public health imperatives are not mutually exclusive.
During the emergency period people have covered through tarpaulin, tent, temporary shelters, voice messages etc. Partners have constructed wooden bridge for emergency requirements of the community. Tent have established for COVID 19 patients for displaced people. Capacity building activities for Upazila Disaster Management Committee  ( UDMC )  has initiated by partners, partners have provided tarpaulin and life jacket & lifebuoys to UDMC to accomplish their rescue activities.
There are still large numbers of people displaced across the affected districts who are likely to remain without significant assistance or permanent shelter for many months to come. • Due to COVID 19 pandemic, the implementation of activities is slowing down.
In Bangladesh, over 44% of the respondents experienced high levels of stress. This affects productivity, children's ability to learn, cohesion in the HH and the health of the HHs.
In addition, outreach volunteers and partners, with the support of UNHCR, have undertaken targeted visits to elderly refugees as part of the elderly care support visit project. The purpose is to provide information specific to elderly care during the COVID 19 outbreak to older persons and their caretakers. Advice was also given on how the elderly care kit that UNHCR has been distributing to older persons can be used to create a small safe zone for older family members. Up until June, the COMs have conducted visits to 4,027 households reaching some 4,453 refugees.
Through diversified channels of communication, COMs conducted 50,012 outreach sessions reaching 314,423 refugees covering health, hygiene, COVID 19 prevention and response, emergency preparedness, and a range of general protection issues. Approximately 18% of those reached were elderly, 30% were children and some 2% were persons with disabilities.
[ 28 September   04 October, Cox's Bazar  ] :Through the Communicating with Communities  ( CwC )  working group, another 51 925 people were engaged in 8664 communication sessions conducted by religious leaders. Additionally, 33 810 Rohingya refugees received COVID 19 key messages through 13 162 community consultation meetings.
The WASH sector plays a critical role in COVID 19 prevention measures for example by making sufficient water available for refugees to practice hand washing, availability of hygiene items like soap etc. Regardless of consistent efforts made by the WASH sector to provide safe water in sufficient quantities, facilities for sanitation and hygiene practices, refugees continue to report on issues around water, sanitation, and hygiene. The IVR system received the highest number of recorded messages related to problems accessing WASH services and facilities
Hygiene Promotion activities have been intensified to respond and prepare for the current public health hazards related to COVID 19 Pandemic and AWD during the Monsoon season. This includes a mass awareness campaign on COVID 19, AWD prevention at field level that focused in intensification on safe water chain related activities such as house level water treatment and storage and distribution of related water treatment products also special emphasis on hand hygiene practices.
[ 27 September   04 October, Cox's Bazar  ] :COVID 19 messages reached 275 122 persons between 27 September   04 October. Since the beginning of the response, CHWG conducted more than 2.9 Million household visits and had contacts with a cumulative number of more than 5.5 million adult household members.
At the same time people are facing double disaster, during the COVID 19 Pandemic Monsoon Flood affected, socio economic impact is very. People loss their job also agricultural product and domestic animal.Distribution of hygiene kits timely due to flooding and COVID situation as the product was shortage in market and disrupted communication to reach at remote areas
[ 22nd Sept   5th Oct 2020, Bangladesh ]  As of 5 October 2020, more than 2 million people have been tested for COVID 19 in Bangladesh, of which 370,132 people tested positive. There are currently 109 COVID 19 labs across the country, and more than 60 per cent of tests are completed in Dhaka. The highest percentage of con rmed cases is found among the age group 31   40 years old  ( 27% ) , and the highest death rate among the age group 61 – 70 years old  ( 31% ) .
In the past week, reports from 121 177 household visits were received, 1894 patients with symptoms of mild respiratory tract infections and 14 patients with moderate/ severe COVID like symptoms were identified. More than half of the patients were referred to health facilities.
In the past week, CHWs provided messages on COVID 19 to 257 665 persons. Since the beginning of the response, CHWG conducted more than 1.24 million household visits and had contacts with a cumulative number of more than 2.43 million adult household members.
As of 15 July, WHO reported over 3,084 cases of COVID 19 in Cox's Bazar, including a number of front line healthcare staff and humanitarian staff. 58 refugees have tested positive for COVID 19, and six have sadly died to date.
Due to the limited data available to understand changes in reporting trends and patterns of survivors of violence seeking health services, it is still unknown how the COVID 19 a pandemic has impacted GBV health services in Cox's Bazar.
57% of respondents reported issues with hygiene  60% of respondents reported issues with water 70% of respondents reported issues with sanitation
WHO has worked with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to train the volunteers on how to identify symptoms associated with COVID 19 so they can refer people for testing. But they must contend with the fear and rumours that have discouraged many people from approaching health facilities.
Top three hygiene issues  ( 214 responses ) † 1 Bathrooms don't have sufficient lights  ( 31% )  2 No seperation between men and women's bathrooms  ( 30% )  3 Bathrooms are far from shelters  ( 25% )
UNHCR has built two isolation and treatment centres, with almost 200 beds for refugees and members of the local community. An intensive care unit for more severe cases has also been established. The facilities are part of a joint effort by the Government and health partners to make a total of 1,900 beds available across the camps and local communities, but if cases increase rapidly, it is possible the capacity of the isolation and treatment centres will be exceeded.
A quality assurance visit and dry run was conducted at SCI SARI ITC in camp 21. The facility is functional with 20 active beds and ready to receive COVID 19 patients
WHO has supported Ukhia Upazilla Heath Complex with NCD screening equipment  ( including Digital blood pressure machine, Weight machine, Height scale, Stethoscope, Glucometer ) . The equipment will also benefit 17 community clinics and 4 union sub centers.
22 Health Care workers at Ukhiya Upazila received a one day IPC training COVID 19 training which is being rolled out to all Upazilas in the district
The first case of COVID19 in the camps was confirmed in the camps in May and by now 64 cases have been confirmed as of 24 July. The level of testing in the camps is very low at 1,722 per million.
With the Ministry of Social Welfare and Department of Social Services, the Child Protection Sub Sector  ( CPSS )  response works to ensure the protection of children in the current COVID 19 response, including through individual case management for children and enhanced remote case management
The camps are highly congested, with shared WASH infrastructure and sub optimal hygiene practices, leaving the population at high risk of COVID 19.
As of 19 July 2020, 10 SARI ITCs are active, and can receive patients. This includes the ICU/HDU facility at Sadar Hospital with eight ICU and ten HDU beds. There are 391 and 126 active SARI and isolation beds respectively in the camps
Protection partners report an increase in domestic violence, intimate partner violence and physical violence as a result of restrictions and their impact on livelihoods. This has increased tensions within families, exacerbating vulnerabilities for women.
Top three sanitation issues  ( 261 responses ) † 1 No seperation between men and women's latrines  ( 44% )  2 Latrines don't have sufficient lights  ( 40% )  3 Latrines are full  ( 38% )
The host communities of Cox's Bazar District has been more affected, with 3,143 confirmed cases since the first case in March 2020.
Immunizations are an essential health service to protect individuals from vaccine preventable diseases  ( VPD ) . WHO continues to provide guidance regarding the operation and sustaining of immunization programs in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic
Twenty doctors completed a 3 day training on mhGAP. This is part of ongoing capacity building for mental health interventions pre COVID 19 and with attention to stress management during COVID 19 pandemic.
Time to reach a functional water source  ( 142 responses )  5 minutes or less 8% 10 minutes 40% 15 minutes 23% 20 minutes 11% 25 minutes 3% 30 minutes 10% More than 30 minute 6%
The direct and indirect socioeconomic impacts of COVID 19 in the district are worsening tensions with the host communities. Cox's Bazar District had a high level of poverty even before the pandemic and has among the lowest development indicators in the country before the 2017 refugee influx.
WHO supported IOM with two rental cars  ( with drivers' partition )  and drivers for daily transport of COVID19 suspected cases as part of the Dispatch and Referral Unit  ( DRU ) .
Distribution of COVID 19 related items are continuing to be conducted daily to both government agencies and implementing partners.
Last time latrines were de sludged or cleaned?  ( 127 responses )  More than 1 month ago 61 1 month ago 39% 3 weeks ago 0% 2 weeks ago 0% 1 week ago 0% Current week 0%
Overall, 374 number of WASH surveys were conducted. The survey tried to capture top water, sanitation and hygiene related issues refugees are facing during the COVID 19 pandemic. Negative coping mechanisms were reported for lack of water such as relying on less preferred  ( unimproved )  sources of water sources for drinking, which can increase the risk of diseases like cholera or acute watery diarrhea  ( AWD ) , which are already prevalent in the camps. Another concerning coping mechanism is the reduction in hygiene practices such as bathing and handwashing. Lack of water could prevent the ability to undertake basic hygiene measures for the prevention of COVID 19. No separation between men and women for latrines as well as bathrooms was one of the most reported issues under sanitation and hygiene.
Based on the last reported income received by households at different stages of the lockdown, a clear pattern is observed on how monthly income levels were declining. Income declines started in March as government started preparing for a lockdown. The losses seem to have carried on to April at a stable pace as the lockdown effects took root. Income losses peaked in May, a time when full lockdown was in force, as COVID 19 cases were steadily increasing. With the economy partially reopening starting in June, income losses started to reduce and would possibly reduce further as more operations resume
Coping strategies reported for insufficient water  ( drinking and non drinking  ( 107 responses ) † Collect water from a source further away than the one normally used 49% Reduce hygiene practices such a bathing, washing hands, clothes, cleaning shelter 30% Rely on less preferred  ( unimproved )  water sources for drinking 26% Rely on less preferred  ( unimproved )  water sources for cooking and washing 23% Send children to collect water 15% Household members drink less 11% Spend money  ( or credit, or in kind resources )  on water 4%
Through its Pandemic Emergency Financing  ( PEF )  facility, the World Bank is providing Bangladesh with a grant of USD 14.8 million. The Government of Bangladesh has selected UNFPA and WFP to implement this fund, of which UNFPA is receiving USD 8.5 million. Working closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other UN agencies and partners, the activities delivered by UNFPA include strengthening laboratory and surveillance capacities for COVID 19 testing, and supporting the government with providing COVID 19 treatment and ensuring infection prevention and contro
Reduction in number of meals consumed was relatively higher among female head households. A comparison of expenditures on food, pre and post crisis, reveal that maleheaded households spent relatively more than femaleheaded households, potentially indicating higher incomes for male than female workers  ( male headed households spend 685 BDT more per capita per month )
In addition to the CST, through the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility, the World Bank is also supporting UNFPA in strengthening the Government's existing laboratories for COVID 19, increasing the capacity of midwives, nurses, medical doctors, critical care specialists and other healthcare professionals, as well as in procurement of PPE, in efforts to support in implementing the Bangladesh Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID 19.
Support alternative arrangement of education process/distribution of EiE kits which will include distance learning activities and tools, including radio, TV and ICT Informed online lessons which should be accessible to children and youth with disabilities ▪ Monitor school attendance in the most affected schools with particular emphasis on children from the vulnerable families
The findings indicate that all aspects of life in the community were affected due to change of income sources caused by COVID 19. However, they ranked  Livelihoods including food and income opportunities, Health Nutrition and WASH, Education for children, Child Protection are the urgent and important issues that need to address immediately
As of 30 July 2020, 10 Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( SARI ITCs )  were active and ready to receive patients, and there were 448 and 38 active SARI ITC and isolation beds, respectively, in the camps
For many vulnerable households in the rural and urban, seeking health services has become unaffordable against the backdrop of dwindled incomes. About 49% of HHs reported that they were unable to afford treatment in cases of sickness due to reduced incomes while another 32% reported engaging in high risk jobs
IOM trained Disaster Risk Reduction teams in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh disseminated key COVID 19 messages to more than 20,000 individuals in the camps and neighboring host communities
Families are at risk of waterborne diseases due to lack of access to clean and safe water for use in their homes. The findings show that about 34% households are not able to use safe and clean water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purpose because most of the poor households have no safe drinking water sources of their own. 26.1% HHs report it takes longer to access water than before COVID 19 onset. The correlation between the prevention and control COVID 19 pandemic and access of clean and safe water is undeniable.
As of 19 July 2020, a total of 3126 persons from the host community in Cox's Bazar district have tested positive for COVID 19: 362 from Chokoria, 272 from Teknaf, 141 from Maheshkhali, 1566 from Sadar, 331 from Ukhia, 232 from Ramu, 134 from Pekua and 88 from Kutubdia
As part of the operational capacity building preparedness for COVID 19 response in Cox's Bazar, WHO conducted a prime 4 day training for Infection Prevention and Control of COVID 19. The multiple modular training has supported trainees from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection  ( SARI )  ITC partners and Government to roll out different modules for their staff; with ongoing direct and indirect support from WHO. So far, 494 and 1320 government and humanitarian health care workers have been trained respectively.
Decreased social cohesion and increased criminal activities have been reported by both the Rohingya and the host community due to a decrease in income, limited resources, fear and reduced humanitarian presence in the camps, and limited protection monitoring
IOM also installed an isolation tent and two screening booths at Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station and convened the second Health, Border and Mobility Management POE taskforce meeting, which included the Director of Communicable Disease Control Unit of the Directorate General of Health Services.
The Rohingya refugee population, the host community, and protection actors operating in Cox's Bazar all reported an increase in protection issues in the camps and the surrounding areas as a result of COVID 19 and the subsequent containment measures.
IOM Bangladesh distributed emergency hygiene materials to law enforcement agencies, government officials, health workers, and other emergency providers, including committees of the Islamic Foundation working on safe and dignified burials, and volunteers from the Extended Programme of Immunization and Cyclone Preparedness Programme. Distributions included 32,663 washable cloth masks and 32,000 face shields.
Despite the presence of government run services such as hospital based One Stop Crisis Centres  ( OCCs ) , women police desks, and legal aid services, as well as GBV service entry points established by NGOs, gaps remain in ensuring adequate coverage of safe and quality GBV services for host communities. In addition, low awareness about available services and deep rooted socio cultural barriers limit the ability of survivors to access services. Access to justice for women and the poor remains of concern due to cost and long waiting times
IOM Bangladesh held workshops for 112 POE personnel  ( 23 women, 89 men )  at Sylhet Osmani International Airport and Benapole and Darshana border control points on health screening and management of ill travellers at PoE, proper use and disposal of PPE and SOPs for frontline workers. The mission donated 400 pairs of cleaning gloves, 4,000 pairs of latex gloves, 3,500 surgical masks, 350 gowns and hand sanitizer and soap to the POE.
An April 2020 study by Yale University found that of 909 households surveyed, 72% of Rohingya refugees and 60% of Bangladeshis were unable to buy essential food items in the last seven days and of those, between 43% 47% had skipped meals or reduced food portions .
in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, the IOM managed isolation and treatment center  ( ITC )  in Leda and three temporary isolation facilities are collecting samples for laboratory testing of suspected and severe acute respiratory infection cases; these facilities are sentinel sites for sample collection from patients with acute respiratory infection or influenza like illness for surveillance and case identification. , 250 samples were collected and transported to the laboratory in Cox's Bazar, of which one sample was positive.
The establishment of quarantine facilities for new arrivals, as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID 19, has helped to safeguard the right to access territory and to seek asylum. The Protection Sector is contributing to raising awareness about COVID  19 and how people can protection themselves, through community outreach members and community groups, Imams, and the Anti Trafficking Working Group who disseminate messages on the protection risks of dangerous onwards movement and trafficking. Protection Emergency Response Unit  ( PERU )  teams are activated in all camps to respond to both the COVID emergency and, in their usual role, the impacts of the monsoon and cyclone seasons.
2,221 poor and extreme poor women received digital multi purpose cash grants of $36. These grants are intended to support families with emergency needs given the loss of incomes due to COVID 19 and cyclone Amphan. 9,674 sanitation kits have also been distributed to households, prioritizing women and youth headed households.
Pre COVID 19, almost 80% of Rohingya households relied on negative coping mechanisms to meet their basic needs, such as relying on less preferred and less expensive foods, borrowing money, relying on friends and family for help, selling assistance and relying solely on assistance which is insufficient to meet all their basic needs
Access to health services: : Similarly in Bangladesh, COVID 19 has cut aid workers in camps by 80 percent. Moreover, without appropriate measures COVID 19 can spread rapidly in refugee camps.88 Many camps, such as the Rohingya settlements in Cox's Bazar, are among the most densely populated areas in the world, and are already experiencing several cases of COVID 1989 with over 15,000 refugees in quarantine.90 Such an outbreak can be devastating due to high levels of chronic and respiratory diseases among many refugees, as well as deficient access to health and sanitation services.
Shelter teams in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh worked with religious leaders to identify 1,073 elderly beneficiaries in 13 camps in need of Non Food Items  ( NFIs )  and distribute packages with a blanket, tarpaulin, floor/sleeping mat, solar light, mosquito net, 3mm rope, and cloth face masks.
Rohingya Community Outreach Members  ( COMs )  conducted 730 household level visits and 154 monitoring assessments, reaching 3,131 refugees. COMs also conducted 2,669 COVID 19 awareness sessions reaching 7,054 refugees, including 1,968 older persons and 144 persons with disabilities. COMs continued conducting mask making trainings for the Rohingya community who produced 3,553 masks.
IOM also trained 16 community leaders and members of teachers' groups on mental health, wellbeing and COVID 19 prevention. IOM's protection team reached 27,228 people with COVID 19 and protection messages and trained 36 clinical staff from ITCs on protection principles, gender based violence, counter trafficking  ( CT ) , psychological first aid  ( PFA ) , safe referrals, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA ) . IOM also developed and trained staff on a booklet, “Self Care and Coping Skills in Stressful Situations' on positive coping skills during COVID 19.
IOM Bangladesh led a webinar with Elevate, Awaj Foundation, H&M, DBL Group, and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association to discuss strategies for protecting international and internal migrant workers in their operations and supply chains. IOM also provided cash grants to nearly 4,000 vulnerable host community households in Cox's Bazar.
The staff has been trained in emergency care and essential medication and equipment have been made available. The hospital is the district's main government medical facility that covers close to 3.5 million people, including host communities and displaced population from Rakhine.
With the increasing threat of COVID 19, preventive measures like physical distancing, temperature checks and frequent handwashing have been adopted. Constant disinfection is carried out in the department and the staff have been provided with personal protective equipment kits.
As the country battles the Covid 19 pandemic, women are having to battle a multitude of issues, starting from gender based violence and discrimination, to dwindling access to sexual and reproductive health supplies. With relief activities focused primarily on food, women's access to sanitary napkins and other hygiene necessities are often overlooked.
The overall child protection response strategy aims to support the GoB mitigate the negative short and long term effects on children as a result of the COVID 19 outbreak, preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children including adolescents , promoting safety, mental and psychosocial well being of children especially the most vulnerable including children living with disabilities, children on the move, those living on the streets and in residential care.
To date, over 150 people were treated in two UNHCR supported Severe Acute Respiratory I Isolation and Treatment Centres  ( SARI ITCs )  in Ukhiya and Kutupalong in Cox's Bazar. Patients include refugees and host community members. Some 107 refugees are currently undergoing quarantine in facilities run by UNHCR
Currently, 107 refugees are under quarantine at four quarantine facilities managed by UNHCR in Ukhiya and Teknaf. These facilities offer space for refugees to stay when they have had close contact with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID 19.
UNHCR is managing two SARI ITCs, which provide medical care for COVID 19 positive patients from refugee settlements and the host community areas adjacent to them. As of 15 July, 159 patients have been admitted to the facilities, of which 31 are currently in patients; 101 were discharged; as well as some transferred to other facilities and ICU care in Cox's Bazar.
As of 5 July 2020, the WHO and the Government of Bangladesh reported 53 confirmed cases of COVID 19 in the refugee camps and 2,776 in the host community in Cox's Bazar.
There is an urgent need to mitigate and address the long term secondary impacts of COVID 19 containment measures to save lives and relieve people of their suffering.More focus needs to be placed on improving trust in health facilities and camp authorities. Mistrust has led to low consultations rates and a lack of willingness to report COVID 19 symptoms and to consent to testing.
CPSS partner agencies also reached 1,849 host community children, adolescents, and parents and caregivers with COVID 19 awareness sessions through community based child protection mechanisms.
In June, an estimated average of 8 test samples were collected per day in the camps, reduced from 11 test samples per day in May. A total of 700 tests were conducted in the camps since testing began in April 2020, compared to 16,220 tests in the host community within the same timeframe . Despite this, positive COVID 19 cases have been detected in 20 of the 34 camps, with a maximum of nine cases in one camp
This requires building capacity of volunteers and the development of tools and resources adapted to the new operational environment created by restrictions on access. Child Protection partners are expanding alternative care arrangements, building capacity of communitybased child protection mechanisms, and adapting coordination mechanisms and methodologies to ensure basic continuity of care.
GBV partners provide individual case management, psychosocial support and referrals. Awareness on GBV and COVID 19 is also ongoing, with GBV partners working closely with MoWCA and the Ministry of Health.