Politics of Myanmar

• The SAC also reviewed and revised 15 projects under a separate 200 million RMB PRC grant specifically dedicated for Rakhine State.
• The latter grant involves projects related to the environment and improving medical access and rural transport.
• Myanmar Government appreciates these corporate social responsibility initiatives by the PRC which will contribute to the success of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).
• - Issued by Ministry of Information and Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, Union Government of Myanmar.

MEPs will discuss the situation in Myanmar since the military seized control of the country on 1 February. Protests over the coup have not stopped and more than 800 civilians have been killed by the army and police, and over 5,000 have been arrested.

Refugees camps are especially vulnerable to serious outbreaks of Covid-19. Here we look at the conditions in the world’s largest refugee settlement, Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled.

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Why are refugee camps particularly vulnerable?

• In March 2020 the UN launched a 2 billion global humanitarian response plan to assist the worlds poorest countries fight the coronavirus pandemic.
• They do not have homes in which to socially distance or self-isolate.
• They lack clean water and soap with which to do that most basic act of self-protection against the virus washing their hands.

What does this mean for the Rohingya?

Since August 2017 Muslim Rohingya refugees have fled violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, into Bangladesh. Over 850,000 refugeees are now living in highly congested conditions in 34 refugee camps around Cox’s Bazar the world’s largest refugee settlement. Alongside the refugees are the host communities, which number around 440,000 people. There are also large numbers of international aid workers living there.

Has coronavirus been reported on Cox’s bazar?

The Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) brings together the main humanitarian actors who work with Bangladeshi and Rohingya communities. They provide regular updates on the situation in Cox’s Bazar district. The ISCG reported that as of 5 April 2020 no cases of Covid-19 had been reported in the refugee camps and that one confirmed case of a Bangladeshi returnee from overseas had been reported in the local community in Cox’s Bazar.

What are the risks to the Rohingya?

The UN has warned that, given the conditions in the camps in Bangladesh and the high levels of vulnerability among the population, “the severity of the possible impact of the virus on refugess is of major concern”.

How are the camps preparing?

• On 25 March the Bangladesh Government said only essential services and assistance will continue in the camps until further notice.
• This means schools, shops and community centres have closed and all gatherings have been suspended.
• All health and nutrition facilities, food and gas distribution and hygiene promotion and distribution will remain open.
• The ISCG provides regular updates on measures underway in the camps to combat covid-19.

Calls for mobile internet to be restored

• One of the main challenges for refugees and aid workers living there is the lack of internet connectivity.
• The Bangladesh Government imposed restrictions on mobile internet access in Coxs Bazar in September 2019, citing security concerns.
• On 30 March 2020 the Bangladeshi Home Minister confirmed restrictions on 3G and 4G mobile data will remain in place.

What is the Bangladesh government doing?

The Government issued its National Response Plan for Covid-19 on 16 March 2020. The Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) fully supports the Bangladesh Government’s plan which, it says, includes the refugee population. On 26 March the Government ordered a nationwide ten-day shut down, later extended to 14 April.

What is the international response?

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, made clear when launching the £2 billion global humanitarian response fund why supporting those most in need matters: The world is only as strong as our weakest health system. If we do not take decisive action now, I fear the virus will establish a foothold in the most fragile countries, leaving the whole world vulnerable as it continues to circle the planet, paying no mind to borders.
• The humanitarian community, via the ISCG, is calling for more international support for Bangladesh.
• The ISCG said it is planning an additional appeal alongside the pre-coronavirus 2020 Joint Response Plan for Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis.
• The Joint Response Plan is a pre-existing plan to support the 1.3 million people in need both Rohingya refugees and host communities with a total requirement of $817 million.

UK support

• On 6 April 2020 the UK announced 21 million to support Bangladesh to fight Covid-19.
• Of this, more than 10 million is for existing UN and NGO partners to maintain essential humanitarian services and prepare Rohingya and host communities for Covid-19.
• The UK has been a major humanitarian aid donor to the refugees.
• This brought the total UK contribution since the start of the crisis in August 2017 to 217 million.

The Rohingya in Myanmar

• The UN says about 128,000 Rohingya are being effectively detained in government camps in Rakhine state in Myanmar.
• A more detailed analysis of how the Rohingya refugee crisis developed and the response of the UK and international community can be found in Library briefing paper Myanmar: January 2020 update.

• EP Subcommittee on Human Rights: Chairs statement on the situation in Myanmar
  Following the International Court of Justices' decision to order Myanmar to take all measures in its power to protect the Rohingya minority from genocide, Maria Arena stated: "Thousands of Rohingya people have been killed or subjected to horrific violence over the past years.
• This decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) underscores the paramount importance of guaranteeing universal and equal enjoyment of human rights, with special attention to the most vulnerable...."