Bangladesh seeks vaccines from UN, donors for Rohingya

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Bangladesh has sought COVID-19 vaccines and other related support for Rohingya refugees in the country from the UN and other donor agencies, said an official on Monday.

Shah Rezwan Hayat, head of the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), told Anadolu Agency that they have requested the UN Refugee Agency and held meetings with the World Health Organization to initiate a vaccination campaign for the refugees in the southern district of Cox's Bazar.

“We held a series of meetings with WHO and prepared a list for the vaccination campaign and selected volunteers. The support for the vaccination campaign will come soon through the Health Ministry,” he said.

The date for the arrival of vaccines from UN agencies has not been finalized yet, he added.

“Our officials and volunteers and other organizations have been working so dedicatedly to contain the deadly virus in the refugee camps. We are providing health safety items and awareness, and taking other strict measures,” the official said.

Last week, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry requested Canada and China to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the world's largest refugee camp.

Coronavirus infections in the squalid camps are on the rise with 49 new cases reported on Sunday -- the highest single-day figure so far.

Authorities on May 20 imposed a 12-day lockdown at the five most infected camps.

Bangladesh is home to more than 1.2 million stateless Rohingya, most of whom fled a brutal military crackdown in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August 2017.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.​​​​​​​