Main Implementing Partner COVID-19 BANGLADESH SITUATION ANALYSIS APRIL 2021 CRISIS TYPE:EPIDEMIC 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 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 Page 4 2. COVID-19 Epidemic Overview Page 11 3. COVID-19 Containment Measures Page 16 4. Information and Communication for COVID-19 Page 17 5. COVID-19 Impact and Humanitarian Conditions Page 18 Livelihoods 19 Food Security 21 Health 23 Nutrition 25 WASH 27 Shelter 29 Education 30 Protection 32 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / HIGHLIGHTS Figure 1. Overall COVID-19 data for Bangladesh (Source: (WHO sitreps and HEOC and Control Room, IEDCR, DHIS2) ) Infection Death Tests Vaccination 745K 11K 5.34M 8.62M COVID-19 infections COVID-19 deaths Tests conducted Vaccinated as of as of 25 April 2021 as of 25 April 2021 30 April 2021 Bangladesh as of 25 April 2021 525 11 37.6K 0 COVID-19 infections COVID-19 deaths Tests conducted Vaccinated as of Refugee Refugee Cox’s Bazar Bazar Cox’s Community as of 25 April 2021 as of 25 April 2021 as of 25 April 2021 30 April 2021 7,488 84 78.8K 126K Host COVID-19 infections COVID-19 deaths Tests conducted Vaccinated as of as of 25 April 2021 as of 25 April 2021 as of 25 April 2021 30 April 2021 Cox’s Bazar Bazar Cox’s Community Throughout April, Bangladesh reported more than 2,000 weeks. During April, the number of operational isolation fatalities from COVID-19, almost double the previous facilities and functional beds decreased in comparison to record of deaths in July last year, making it the deadliest the previous month, while an increase in bed occupancy month since the beginning of the pandemic. However, the has been observed throughout April. number of COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh has been on a downward trend since the last week of April, likely due to In Cox’s Bazar, the national COVID-19 containment measures the restrictions which were imposed by the government are being adopted locally. In response to the increase on 5th April and extended until 5th May. The nationwide in the number of cases among the host community, the COVID-19 vaccination which was launched on 7 February Government of Bangladesh and the Office of the Refugee 2021, is facing some challenges, primarily due to shortages Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RCCC) in Cox’s of vaccines as a result of India’s decision to stop exporting Bazar have imposed movement restrictions and other the vaccine. Vaccination campaigns for international mitigation measures in district and camp areas. humanitarian workers have also started in Cox’s Bazar district. Findings from the final Refugee influx Emergency Vulnerability Assessment (REVA 4) shed light on the impact The nationwide increase in deaths has not yet been seen of the COVID-19 on livelihoods, food security, adoption in Cox’s Bazar including the refugee camps, despite an of coping mechanisms for both the refugees and host increasing trend in the positive COVID-19 cases among communities. The assessment has shown an overall both the host and refugee communities in the past few increase in vulnerability and in the adoption of negative Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes 4 // 39 coping strategies among the two communities, decreasing WASH facilities increased protection risks for women their ability to absorb future shocks. These findings are and children. utilised to analyse the potential impact of the ongoing lockdown in Bangladesh, since the beginning of April. As of April, schools and other educational institutions Given the increased vulnerability and lack of ability to deal remain closed, which in turn also increases protection with shocks, the lockdown is expected to have negative concerns for children. Schools continue to remain closed. impacts if not mitigated. Access to distance learning remains challenging for refugee children and children from the host community’s Fire incidents continue to be reported in the camps in poorer families. Protection actors highlight the increasing Cox’s Bazar throughout April, destroying markets and negative impact this is having on the mental health of shelters. At the same time, people who were affected by children, the exposure to risk that is faced by out-of-school the massive fire which broke out on 22 March continue children and the detrimental impact on their cognitive and to report challenges in accessing markets, and in shelter social development. reconstruction. The fire incidents and loss of shelter and Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes 5 // 39 Figure 2. Timeline of Major Event 745,322 11,053 25/04/2021 WHO report confirm COVID-19 deaths has exceed 11,000 in Bangladesh CASES DEATHS 644.439 9,318 05/04/2021 The government of Bangladesh declared nationwide lockdown CASES DEATHS 573,687 8.720 22/03/2021 A massive fire broke out in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps CASES DEATHS 547,930 8,428 03/03/2021 14,000 Rohingya refugee have been relocated to Bhashan Char Island CASES DEATHS 538,062 8,205 07/02/2021 The national-level vaccination programme started rolling out CASES DEATHS 464,932 6,644 04/12/2020 Bangladesh has relocated 1,642 Rohingya to the Bhashan Char Island CASES DEATHS 400,251 5,818 26/10/2020 WHO report confirm COVID-19 cases has exceed 400,000 in Bangladesh CASES DEATHS 207,453 2,668 21/07/2020 GoB Ministry of Health made wearing of masks mandatory for all CASES DEATHS 202,066 2,581 18/07/2020 DGHS confirmed that COVID-19 cases has exceed 200,000 in Bangladesh CASES DEATHS 102,292 1,443 18/06/2020 DGHS confirmed that COVID-19 cases has exceed 100,000 in Bangladesh CASES DEATHS 47,153 650 01/06/2020 GoB approves resumption of domestic flights on a limited scale CASES DEATHS 18,863 283 15/05/2020 GoB Ministry of Health confirms first COVID-19 cases in Refugee Camps CASES DEATHS 88 9 05/04/2020 GoB extends general holidays till 14 April and transport ban till 25 April CASES DEATHS 56 6 03/04/2020 DIFE estimated unemployment of 2,138,778 workers in RMG sector CASES DEATHS 26/03/2020 GoB Ministry of Road, Transport and Bridges announced transport ban 39 4 25/03/2020 The government of Bangladesh announced a stimulus package CASES DEATHS 33 3 23/03/2020 GoB Ministry of Public Administration declared general holidays CASES DEATHS 14 1 18/03/2020 GoB Ministry of Health confirms first COVID-19 death in Bangladesh CASES DEATHS 0 16/03/2020 GoB Ministry of Education orders closure of all educational institutions DEATHS 3 0 08/03/2020 GoB Ministry of Health confirms first COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh CASES DEATHS Containment measures COD cases Economic Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes 6 // 39 Figure 3. Refugee population by camp as of 27th April 2021 (Source: UNHCR 31/03/2021) Raja Palong Total Refugee Population 884,041 Individuals Camp 1E Camp 1W 189,660 Families Kutupalong Kutupalong RC RC Camp 4 Camp 3 Camp 2W Camp 2E 17,024 Camp 4 Kutupalong Balukhali Camp 6 Extension Camp 5 Camp 7 Expansion Site (*22 Camps) Camp 20 Camp 17 Camp 8W 603,315 Extension Camp 8E Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar Camp 20 Camp 9 Camp 18 Camp 10 Camp 19 Camp 11 Camp 12 Camp 13 Myanmar Camp 14, 15, 16 Camp 14 105,578 Camp 25 Nhilla Camp 15 Palong Khali Camp 25 Camp 25 Camp 16 7,778 Camp 24 Camp 24 26,717 Naf Choukhali River Camp Refugee Population 26 0 - 17,002 Nayapara RC Camp 21 Nayapara 17,003 - 26,474 Camp 21 22,578 RC 26,475 - 32,815 16,995 32,816 - 50,869 Camp 26 Myanmar 40,661 Camp 27 Bangladesh Camp 27 1 0.5 0 1 Km 15,507 Whykong Teknaf Camp 23 Jalia Palong 6,559 Camp 22 Camp 22 Nhilla 21,329 Bay of Camp 23 Creation date: May 13, 2021 Data Sources: UNHCR Refugee Population data as of March 31, 2021 Bengal Projection: BUTM The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply Baharchhara official endorsement or acceptance by iMMAP Better Data Better Decisions Better Outcomes 7 // 39 CONTEXT - ECONOMIC Most of the statements and analysis in this section remain undermine years of steady progress in poverty reduction identical to the March 2021 report due to the lack of new in Bangladesh (World Bank 12/04/2021). evidential reports published during the reporting period, as the situations have not significantly evolved. The majority The Government’s Report on SDG’s in June 2020 showed of the analysis and statements here are retrieved from that the COVID-19 pandemic decreased employment various reports published by The World Bank.