COVID-19 Outbreak in Bangladesh Refugee Camp with 1 Million Residents (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh, home to approximately one million people.

According to AFP on the 14th, health officials in the Cox's Bazar region of Bangladesh reported that two refugees tested positive for COVID-19 and have been placed in isolation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explained that one of the individuals is a Rohingya man, while the other is a local man living near the refugee camp. This marks the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Rohingya refugee camp.

In response, WHO spokesperson Katalin Bercaru stated that a "rapid response team" has been dispatched and that contact tracing is underway for those who had contact with the infected individuals to conduct testing and isolation. Local authorities also announced plans to strengthen measures and diagnostic testing to prevent further spread.

British broadcaster BBC reported that 1,900 refugees are currently in quarantine awaiting testing.

The refugee camp is where the Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, a neighboring country, to escape persecution by the Myanmar government. It is reported that the camp consists of densely packed temporary structures made of cloth and bamboo, with narrow alleys overflowing with sewage, creating poor living conditions.

With the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the world's largest refugee camp, concerns about a large-scale outbreak within the camp are rising. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a non-profit organization, stated that 40,000 to 70,000 people live per square kilometer in the camp, "at least 1.6 times higher than the population density on the Diamond Princess cruise ship," expressing serious concern.

Shamim Jahan, the health officer for Save the Children Bangladesh, expressed worry, saying, "With the virus outbreak in the world's largest refugee camp, realistically thousands of people could die."

Earlier, when numerous COVID-19 cases were reported in the Cox's Bazar area, home to 3.4 million people including one million refugees, Bangladeshi authorities imposed a full lockdown on the region and restricted vehicle access to the camp. Despite measures such as reducing humanitarian staff in the camp by about 80%, they were unable to prevent confirmed cases.

Sam Brownback, U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, explained, "The refugee camp is incredibly crowded," adding, "Unfortunately, COVID-19 will spread very quickly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.