Bangladesh: Rohingya

(asked on 19th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of effect of the Bangladeshi Government’s internet restrictions in Rohingya refugee camps on the ability of human rights organisations to respond to the covid-19 pandemic.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 2nd June 2020

Good communications are critical for all aspects of the COVID-19 preparedness and response in the camps. Human rights organisations are working to provide legal guidance, monitor and advocate for the safety and wellbeing of refugees in line with international standards, and support the efforts of the protection sector overall, particularly to respond to violence against women and girls.

The internet and access restrictions limit the ability of agencies to share information with the refugees and with each other; and of the Rohingya to communicate among themselves. However, despite the decreased presence of humanitarian personnel in the camps, and internet and sim card restrictions, Rohingya are still able to communicate on a limited scale with human rights organisations. Protection services are among the critical services continuing in the camps and information sharing structures between organisations are functional. We continue to emphasise the importance of telecommunication access in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in our senior meetings with the Government of Bangladesh. We have requested the lifting of restrictions and allowing full communication access in the camps.

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