Five Rohingya camps under lockdown due to surge in Covid-19 cases
As per the lockdown restrictions, the Rohingyas of the camps concerned will not be allowed to come out and no outsiders can enter the overcrowded Rohingya camps
As 90 Rohingyas detected positive for Covid-19 in the last two days, lockdown on five Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya upazila has been imposed for 12 days.
The district administration in consultation with the office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) in Cox's Bazar have taken extensive measures to enforce the lockdown restrictions in the camp -- 2,3,4,15 and 24 -- in Kutupalong since 20 May.
Dr Mahbubur Rahman, secretary of the District Coronavirus Infection Prevention Committee and civil surgeon of the district, said Covid-19 patients had been identified in each of the 33Rohingya camps.
The infection rate was a bit higher in 2, 3,4,15 and 24 number camps of Kutupalong, he said.
"As long as the lockdown remains in place, no one, including local and international NGO officials, will be allowed inside the camps. At the same time, no Rohingya will be allowed to leave the camps," he added.
However, the emergency services would be out of the purview of lockdown restrictions, he further said.
Dr Mahbub said the law enforcement agencies under the leadership of executive magistrates would work round the clock to ensure proper implementation of the lockdown.
Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in coronavirus infections in the Rohingya camps.
In a statement, the UN agency said that the situation may take a terrific turn there if effective steps are not taken immediately.
According to Shah Rezwan Hayat, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, the number of Covid-19 patients shot up sharply in the Rohingya camps recently.
In the 33 Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar, a total of 41,477 people have been tested so far.
Of them, 913 Rohingyas -- 740 from Ukhiya and 173 from Teknaf–had testedCovid-19 positive since the beginning of the outbreak.
Besides, 13 of them succumbed to the viral infection.
In the last week, from 14 May to 20 May, some 165 Covid-19 patients were identified inside the camps.
