Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, 30th March. Today Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum (CCNF) an alliance of 60 local and national civil society and NGOs have had organized an on line press conference and sharing meeting where journalist from both Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka have participated. They have raised the issue is that as Cox’s Bazar district hosting 1.1 million Rohingya refugees and it is the low human development district in the country, the district deserve special attention from both government and international agencies in this corona crisis. They have proposed massive mobilization of social capital so that there will be people’s initiative like what was in very first day of August 2017 influx. Journalists in presence especially from Ukhiya also urge government to resume mobile and internet facilities with 4G facilities in whole over the refugee camps including in Ukhiya and Teknaf at least for the time being so that there will be people’s self-preparation, no rumors and mis-information, and finally Rohingyas will be able to communicate with health facilities. These will also help local journalist to pass their news. The virtual press conference was moderated by three Co-Chairs of CCNF, Abu Morshed Chowdhury PHALS, Bimol Dey Sarker Mukti and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury COAST. Nayeem Gowhar Warha Disaster Forum, Abdul Latif Khan NAHAB, Jahsim Uddin ADAB and Rafqul Islam FNB have participated as expert and guest speakers. Please note that ADAB and FNB is the two largest and active NGO network of the country.
During the meeting other most important proposal have come out which are as follows, (i) International agencies should consider the whole district as a host community area, (ii) There are huge need of awareness in both camp and also in host community on social distancing, local NGOs should be allowed in this regard immediately, simultaneously there is also need of strict enforcement in this regard. (iii) All temporary and daily visitors should be checked with temperature before to entering in the camps. (iv) It is proved that at the end these are the locals have to take the responsibilities of humanitarian response in camps, as they have to live in the locality, so local NGOs, local government and local administration have to be decision making part of the Rohingya response, no doubt there is a need of technical assistance from international agencies, so for future for cost minimization and also for whole of the society approach, localization road map should be prepared and implemented without any delay. (v) Special measures should be taken to support the daily and monthly labor of low and medium hotels in Cox’s Bazar, Rickshaw pullers, labors working in fishing and salt industries . (vi) There are a lot of street children, kitkot, and camera man in the Cox’s Bazar town, they should supported, and NGOs who are working with street children, disable and autistic children should be supported. (vii) Local and national NGOs should come forward to contribute government initiative, simultaneously they should contribute and initiate own fund to relief in whole over district. (viii) District administration should sit with doctors and nurses, motivate them and also with clinic owners, to open their activities, they should be provided with personal protective equipment’s and masks priority basis finally (ix) NGO affairs bureau should come forward with a system so that FD7 application and approval should be given in on line and be by 24 hours.
The press conference and meeting also urged that, to provide awareness that in no way the Rohingyas and the foreigners should not be considered as a root of Corona crisis.
Please download press release [Bangla Press] [English Press]
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