IHRC are deeply concerned that a potential corona outbreak can cause fatal consequences in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh. Home to over a million Rohingyan refugees, Cox’s Bazaar is the world’s largest refugee camp and fears are arising that the overcrowding can exacerbate a coronavirus outbreak.
Background
Requested Action
Model Template
Recipient addresses
Background
IHRC are deeply concerned that a potential corona outbreak can cause fatal consequences in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh. Home to over a million Rohingyan refugees, Cox’s Bazaar is the world’s largest refugee camp and fears are arising that the overcrowding can exacerbate a coronavirus outbreak.
According to the OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), as of March 2019, over 909,000 Rohingya refugees have gathered in Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh. Since 2019, the number has grown over a million.
The persecution of Rohingyas has been ongoing for decades, however recently, since October 2016, there has been a large escalation of attacks. While it is still continuing in parts of Myanmar, some of the worst humanitarian catastrophes have already occurred. It is estimated that more than 20,000 people were killed, with thousands of Rohingya internally displaced, accompanied by rapes, looting, torture and beatings.
To find out more about the campaign, visit the campaign page here.
Requested Action
Write to the Bangladesh High Commissioner / Ambassador in your country and urge them to improve conditions in the camps, so that they are able to implement social distancing and other prevention methods.
Model Template
Dear [Insert Ambassador’s Name]
I am writing to you to express my concerns about the living conditions in the camps of Cox’s Bazaar. The current global pandemic poses a great threat to the thousands living in the camps. If an outbreak were to happen in these camps the results would be catastrophic.
I am writing to urge you to improve the conditions of these camps, so that social distancing and other prevention methods can be implemented. Medical aid and intensive care facilities should also be on standby.
There is a serious and imminent threat and this matter should not be taken lightly. I look forward to hearing from you.
[Your Name]
Recipient Addresses
In the current circumstances, IHRC requests you send emails and not post letter. To find the Ambassador / High Commissioner of your country, please see:
https://www.embassypages.com/bangladesh
H. E. Ms. Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK, Ireland and Liberia & Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the IMO, mca@bhclondon.org.uk
Tarik Ahsan, Pakistan High Commissioner, mission.islamabad@mofa.gov.bd
Shahidul Islam, Malaysia High Commissioner mission.kualalumpur@mofa.gov.bd
