Main Implementing Partner
COVID-19 BANGLADESH SITUATION ANALYSIS CRISIS TYPE:EPIDEMIC MARCH 2021
Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes The outbreak of disease caused by the virus known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) or COVID-19 started in China in December 2019. The virus quickly spread across the world, with the WHO Director-General declaring it as a pandemic on March 11th, 2020.
The virus’s impact has been felt most acutely by countries facing humanitarian crises due to conflict and natural disasters. As humanitarian access to vulnerable communities has been restricted to basic movements only, monitoring and assessments have been interrupted.
To overcome these constraints and provide the wider humanitarian community with timely and comprehensive information on the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, iMMAP initiated the COVID-19 Situational Analysis project with the support of the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (USAID BHA), aiming to provide timely solutions to the growing global needs for assessment and analysis among humanitarian stakeholders. CONTENTS
1. Executive Summary / Highlights Page4 2. Context - Economic Page9 3. COVID-19 Epidemic Overview Page11 4. COVID-19 Containment Measures Page18 5. Information and Communication for COVID-19 Page20 6. COVID-19 Impact and Humanitarian Conditions Page21
Livelihoods 22
Food Security 24
Health 27
Nutrition 29
WASH 33
Shelter 35
Education 36 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / HIGHLIGHTS
Figure 1. Overall COVID-19 data for Bangladesh (Source: WHO sitreps, HEOC , Control Room, IEDCR, and DHIS2)
Infection Death Tests Vaccination
595K 8,904 4.58M 5.36M COVID-19 infections COVID-19 deaths Tests conducted Vaccinated as of as of 29 March 2021 as of 29 March 2021 31 March 2021 Bangladesh as of 29 March 2021
438 10 34K 0 COVID-19 infections COVID-19 deaths Tests conducted Vaccinated as of Refugee Cox’s Bazar Bazar Cox’s Community as of 28 March 2021 as of 28 March 2021 as of 28 March 2021 31 March 2021
73 6,014 68K 74.3K
Host COVID-19 infections COVID-19 deaths Tests conducted Vaccinated as of
as of 28 March 2021 as of 28 March 2021 as of 28 March 2021 31 March 2021 Cox’s Bazar Bazar Cox’s Community
Since March 2021, Bangladesh has been experiencing a Bazar, campaigns for the Rohingya refugees are planned surge in COVID-19 cases. After months of gradual decrease, to start in the coming weeks. However, plans are expected cases have increased by 350% in March compared to the to face some setbacks due to the massive fire in camps 8E, previous month. Deaths also climbed to 496 from 281 8W, 9, and 10 which destroyed several vaccination points. in February. In response to the new COVID-19 wave, the government has imposed new regulations and movement A massive fire broke out on 22 March in the Kutupalong restrictions on the public. mega camp, affecting camps 8E, 8W, 9, and 10. The fire left thousands of people temporarily displaced after damaging The national vaccination campaign is facing some more than 10,000 shelters. The fire also destroyed shops, challenges due to a recent temporary halt on exports by nutrition and distribution centers, learning centers, and the Indian government of the COVIDShield, the Oxford- health and WASH infrastructure. The impact of the fire is Astrazeneca vaccine produced at Serum Institute of India. covered by the findings from theInter-Sector Coordination As of 31 March, the health authorities have administered Group (ISCG) Rapid Joint Needs Assessment conducted more than five million first doses of the vaccine. immediately following the fire.
Following the national trend, COVID-19 cases in Cox’s Bazar The concern over financial burden has increased among are increasing, especially among the host community, the Rohingya community in the first two months of 2021. with Cox’s Bazar being one of the 31 most affected Despite continued humanitarian assistance to refugee zones in the country. While vaccination campaigns for households largely at the same scale prior to COVID-19, international humanitarian workers have started in Cox’s vulnerability of the Rohingya refugees, including
4 // 48 Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes economic vulnerability, and adoption of high risks coping the most reported challenges for the host community. For mechanisms, has increased and is likely to be increasing the refugee community, existing problems and barriers their financial concerns. before the pandemic add further challenges for students.
Schools and other learning facilities continue to be closed. Protection risks remain high, as result of the massive A recent assessment of the Education Sector for the fire which damaged a substantial number of child and Rohingya and the host communities by REACH highlights women-friendly spaces in the camps, and left many women the many challenges in the availability and accessibility and children sleeping in unsafe areas and some children of distance learning for students from both communities. unaccompanied. The continued school closures also Lack of electricity, internet, and technological devices expose children to increasing risks such as child labor, contributes to the inability of students to access quality child marriage, kidnapping, and human trafficking. education. However, financial constraints remain one of
Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes 5 // 48 Figure 2. Timeline of Major Events
6 // 48 Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes 7 // 48 Figure 3. Refugee population by camp as of 31st March 2021 (Source: UNHCR 31/03/2021 )
Raja Palong ota e u ee o u ation Individuals Camp 1E
Camp 1W Families Kutupalong utu a on Camp 4 Camp 3 Camp RC 2W Camp 2E Camp 4 utu a on Ba u a i Camp 6 Extension Camp 5 Camp 7 ansion ite am s
Camp 20 Camp 17 Camp 8W Extension Camp 8E
Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar Camp 20 Camp 9 Camp 18 Camp 10
Camp 19 Camp 11 Camp 12 Camp 13