In recent years, the whole world is experiencing several phenomena; Refugee crisis, LGBTI movement and climate change are most significant among them. As this is the second episode of “Rohingya Crisis”, we can try to find some very relevant answers to difficult questions. Statistically, Bangladesh is a land of around 167 million people, ranked 8 in the world by population and currently world’s most densely populated country in. Was Bangladesh ready for another near a million people?
In April the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, confirmed that her government planned to move 100,000 Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char. she said. “We have prepared a better place for them to live, with houses and shelters where they can earn a living.” The UN and aid agencies were not convinced. They still believe any refugees relocate to Bhasan Char will be isolated, trapped at the mercy of cyclones, floods and human traffickers. Is the current refugee camp safe and well equipped?
According to many world’s experts and scholars, Rohingya refugee crisis is one of the biggest humanitarian crises the world has faced in most recent era. The face that, this displaced crowd was too sudden that Bangladesh government had no other choice to resettle them immediately on a hilly jungle. They cleaned the jungle, cut the trees and built their huts to accommodate more and more people.
Matter of fact, absence of basic living facilities during humanitarian crises places the life of girls and women at particularly high risk of exploitation and exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. There is no particular data to access SRHR related case. Prof Dr Serajul Islam, former head of Dermatology Department of CMCH blamed the Rohingya community for the threat of AIDS epidemic in greater Chattogram region; he said “The Rohingya refugees must be confined in their camps to restrict HIV/AIDS from spreading in the country”
According to data from the National AIDS/STD Programme, 799 people have died from the disease since the first AIDS case was identified in Bangladesh in 1989. Among them, 141 died in 2018. Still there is no particular data for Hijra and Transgender population regarding HIV/AIDS, STIs and STDs. According to district health administrative, rohingya camps management authorities and government health officials, since 31st December 2015 in Cox’s Bazar, one transgender person and 48 children have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
Bangladesh government has taken some programs regarding HIV/AIDS, STDs and STIs like free HIV screening, counseling service, awareness campaigns, distributing necessary kits to diagnose the virus in hospitals, proper training to medical stuffs, and providing antiretroviral drugs to HIV patients.
December 13, 2019
Photo collection: Sohanur Rahman, Journalist/Climate ambassador/ social advocate
Ref: “Emergency type: Rohingya Refugee Crisis–Weekly Situation Report”/WHO, “319 Rohingyas affected by AIDS”/Ukhiyanews, “Sexually transmitted infections among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh”/ Hossain MM/Sultana A/Mazumder H/Munzur-E-Murshid, “Hiv infection in Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh”/ Kamrul Hsan/Mark D Griffiths/David Gozal/Mohammad Azizur Rahman, “Number of Rohingya HIV/AIDS patients on the rise”/prothomalo, “World AIDS Day: Rohingya influx triggers fears of disease spreading”/dhakatribune
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