Refugee Camps Face COVID-19: 'If We Do Nothing, The Harm Is Going To Be So Extreme'

You've been working in humanitarian aid for over 20 years. Have you ever seen anything like this before?Why did you decide to look at the camps near Cox's Bazar specifically?

You have communal latrines as opposed to individual latrines. They're often dirty and not well-kept. The other thing is that people who come to the camp are not in particularly good shape [due to poverty and malnutrition]. They have an overall poor health status and that is ripe for epidemics to occur.There have been outbreaks of diphtheria and measles. So we already know that this is an area where outbreaks will occur.

There are some basic hospitals at the camps, and there are approximately 300 beds or so that are available. But they will be quickly overwhelmed. In terms of intubation and being put on a ventilator [a treatment for severe cases of COVID-19] — I have my doubts if that's going to happen in this situation or in many other situations. I don't think that refugees will have access to that in [the national hospitals of their host countries] if the nationals need it. I think that would be very hard for a government to agree to but I hope I am wrong.A lot of protective gear, a lot more beds.

Pretty simple, people will die.

This has been on my mind—the magnitude of this pandemic will be unbearable. The destitute will suffer unimaginably.

They are fucked

Many many will die. Go there and help

Let them be FREE

It will be a disaster for not only the Rohingya, but for Bangladeshis as well. Not a wealthy country. Already over-crowded. God help them.

Is it possible to expand into the surrounding area to allow for less crowding? Do they have a hospital/clinic that could also be expanded before this hits? Train people to help the helpers.

NPR will blame Trump. So predictable...

Agree, but where are the human resources to help these poor souls! Also, think about all the third world countries where people do not have water to drink let alone wash their hands!

My god just imagine when this hits Gaza.

How should I prepare for the worst-case scenario? and What can I do to prevent spread and protect myself? This epidemic is unpredictable, and it is possible that it could begin spreading in your community. See What virologists say.. Don't worry

I'm curious what'll happen if/when it hits the detention centers here in the US too.

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