Outbreak of New Virus in the Camp, Health and Humanitarian Impact

Authored by: Abdur Rahman & Mamtaj Ullah

INTRODUCTION
The Rohingya community, long denied citizenship in Myanmar, have fled persecution and sought refuge in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, refugees face extreme challenges in terms of hygiene and access to adequate health care. As the camp population grows, the risk of disease outbreaks remains high due to limited resources, poor infrastructure and a lack of preventive health services. Recently, a rapidly spreading unknown virus emerged in the camps, affecting almost every household and posing a serious threat to the most vulnerable children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. The worsening health situation highlights the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian support, including medical assistance, sanitation promotion and disease prevention programmes. Immediate action is essential to protect the health, dignity, and basic human rights of the Rohingya, who continue to live in uncertainty and extreme hardship.

Symptoms and Affected Group
Generally, these are some common signs of this virus that are usually found from affected individuals High Fever, Joint Pain, Abdominal Muscles Pain, Smallpox and headache. In Rohingya Refugee Camp, it’s very complicated to express how many groups are affected in camp. In facts; it’s affecting Children, Women and men.
•⁠ ⁠According to IOM latest report the 65% of affected individuals are the aged of 1-5 years and 23% are aged 6-10 years. Furthermore, 58% are male and 42% are female.

Spread and Transmission
In Rohingya Refugee Camp, it’s difficult to express how it’s spreading day by day to all without categorized aspect of people. It’s spreading widely within the camp. Rohingya Refugees are surviving in small shelters where they have not separate room for each and every one that’s why transmission and spreading of viruses is faster.

Health Facilities and Medical Access
Many affected people are visiting the NGO provided Hospitals to access medical support but due to the lack of proper treatment for this virus the patient hasn’t got proper treatment. Finally, some people have lost hope from NGO Hospital. Qualified Doctors within the camp is rare. Some barriers that harm the patient to go hospital are insufficient spaces and lack of proper caring staff at Hospital, Separate Room for patients and Psychosocial Support System inside hospital is required said Rohingya refugees.

Impacts on Daily Life
According to our observation, the affected individuals can’t involve in any activities as they always work for their living. This virus has kept many people in beds for some days without any movement. “I couldn’t have worked for ten days due to this virus.” Said Mohammed Siddique. “I couldn’t teach the students about 7 days due this virus” Said A Community Teacher. “Badly, I couldn’t get involved in my 3rd-month assessment at my school due to this virus “Said Mohammed Yeasin, Rohingya Student.

Community Reaction
Rohingya Refugees are fearing of this virus because it’s gradually spreading everywhere around the camp. Rohingya Community are calling for immediate action or support to protect from the virus.” We call upon the NGO, Medical Support team and local humanitarian actors to support us for this virus”. said Camp Residents.
•⁠ ⁠This virus makes mentally unwell, in this case we need Psychosocial Support so we appeal to increase Mental Health Support to NGO, Medical Support Team and other Humanitarian Actors.

Voices from the Camp
Boshir Ahmmed, a 40-year-old community leader and a head of seven-member family, shared his deep concern over the recent health crisis sweeping through the camp. He said his entire family with 7 members has been affected by this mysterious disease and the worst thing is that many of them faced it repeatedly. He endured from severe symptoms like fever, intense body pain (especially legs and hands), headache, and incontrollable body tremors.
•⁠ ⁠Besides, he oversees 105 families under his leadership, assigned by Camp in Charge. According to him, nearly every family under his care are affected by the recent disease and approximately there are 600 populations by heads, among them 345 are children and shockingly, 95% of the total population has fallen ill. Many are facing it repeatedly and each episode last at least three to five days, though in some cases, individual suffer for weeks, and even months. Boshir Ahmmed, a community leader or Block Majhi

I am Mohammed Aziz, a community teacher. I was caught by this virus where I have no access to mobility, no strength to work on my usual assignment, no ability to Work for my personal development and I couldn’t involve in my teaching as a result of this virus.
•⁠ ⁠“I felt like I will be no longer”, “I was disabled mentally while I was facing this virus “. Mohammed Aziz, A community Teacher.
•⁠ ⁠I am Mohammed Yeasin, a grade 4 students. I lost the ability to move from my bed for 3 days. Very sadly, I couldn’t attend my 3-month assessment on my Private School due to this virus.” I lost my hopes in my academic success for this year”.

Emergency Needs
In the Concentrate Refugee Camp, the possibility to harm people through various unhealthy food, unwell air condition, worst environment without planting and lack of drainage cleanliness. As Refugees demanding for their well-being are basically and importantly clean Water, Clean Toilet, Cleanliness Campaign around the camp, proper wash Facilities for Camp, Child Safeguarding Policies, Safety Ensuring Process, Water Sanitation Department and Better Medical Facilities.

Response from Authorities
The Local and International NGO are working to prevent Rohingya Refugees from harmful effects such as Ensuring Clean Water, Primary Medical Facility and Organizing Some WASH Programme by some NGO Red Crescent, SHED Wash Bangladesh, NRC, World Vision, NGO Forum and BRAC.
•⁠ ⁠Some Organization are actively Engaging to Medical Support such as MSF, IOM, BRAC, GK and FRIENDSHIP said Rohingya refugees during the in person interviews.

Conclusion
In conclusion, this report highly express how the virus is spreading, how people are facing health problem physically and emotionally, what are the medical access they are getting and how NGO are caring of them. This report also appeals to immediate response from Authorities to support for this worst virus. This report highly examines the community’s need, hygiene ensures, health facilities and how it’s spreading everywhere. Additionally, it’s focused on grabbing attending from local and international Organization to support Rohingya Refugees living in the world’ largest refugees camp.

References
IOM – https://bit.ly/4kmAKQF
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/print/is-bangladesh-prepared-for-another-covid-wave-1749655874?utm