Myanmar: COVID-19 and displaced nationals
Sreeparna Banerjee
As COVID-19 virus spread in most corners of the world, it is important to keep in mind a section of population, currently
close to a million, who are stateless, displaced and living in cramped condition with minimum availability of sanitation, hygiene as well as nutrition. The Displaced Myanmar Nationals, as they are referred to by the Bangladeshi government, are living in Cox’s Bazar district, which is under resourced, with minimum health care facilities and care givers.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), to arrest the novel corona virus, two things are crucial. First, maintenance of sanitation and hygiene whereby periodic washing of hands with soaps or using hand sanitizers with 66 per cent alcohol content is essential. Covering face while sneezing and coughing. On top of this, maintaining cleanliness as well as washroom hygiene is necessary. However, sanitation and hygiene concerns in the camp areas remain dire. Several
reports mention the unavailability of water and soap in/outside latrines, preventing proper hand wash. Since soaps are expensive, personal purchase is also unlikely. Hand wash is thus a
gap area and needs immediate and urgent prioritisation in hygiene control to overcome COVID-19.
In addition, like for any other displaced community, ‘shame’ plays crucial role amongst Rohingya women since they are further marginalised even within the minority community. The unplanned nature of toilets and bathing spaces, without any thought to additional private spaces, discourages women from using them. Currently, a single toilet or bathing space caters to around 100 people, across age and
gender. The poor infrastructure-to-people ratio causes long queues, which includes men, making it difficult for women to use them. Thus, many women prefer washing and urinating in their own limited space in the camp shelter.
The community lacks proper knowledge about
menstrual health, and menstruation is incorrectly associated with shame and uncleanliness. Rohingya women mostly use natural materials such as mud, leaves, dung or animal skins to manage their menstrual flow. This is despite the provision of menstrual hygiene products as part of their dignity kits, which they are unable to use due to uneasiness while changing or washing re-usable sanitary pads or cloths, or disposing of them in a private and hygienic manner in the same space used by men. Thus, the lack of access to water and personal latrines and the consequent increase in open defecation is putting women and children at increased risk of diseases, including COVID-19.
Second, balanced and nutritious diet is essential to maintain good health. As per
JRP 2020, majority of the household in the camp areas do not eat nutritious food. With few opportunities to produce their own food, limited financial and physical access to food, movement restrictions, protection issues and limited sources of income, the displaced Rohingya’s remain 100 percent reliant on food assistance to sustain the minimum daily required kilocalories per individual, and for dietary diversification. Thus, susceptibility to illness becomes easier since immunity level in the body remains low.
Preparedness and response
Bangladesh as of
19 March has reported 17 confirmed COVID 19 cases with one death. Given the global trend, the numbers and death toll is likely to escalate if not dealt with precaution as well as proper and adequate response. In such environment, dire situation call for immediate measures. As a novel step the humanitarian organisations are mobilising Rohingya women to spread awareness about the said disease. This move has hoped to sensitise women to act with caution and care to fight the said disease.
Hygiene promotion has been stepped up in the camp areas, with all humanitarian partners ensuring that water and soap is readily available to all and in abundance. Additional measures, including increasing the number of hand washing facilities in distribution centres, health points, nutrition centres, community centres and other places where services are being delivered, are underway.
In crowded camps a potential coronavirus outbreak could increase strains on already under-resourced doctors, hospitals, and supplies. Keeping this in mind, a number of facilities is being arranged. The Bangladesh Government along with WHO has arranged isolation facilities with
50 beds in Ramu and 50 beds in Chakaria and has initiated temperature screening at the Cox’s Bazar airport. In Ukhiya and Teknaf, an initial 47 isolation beds are functional and stand ready in nine health facilities run by humanitarian partners in and around the camps areas, with potential to set up existing facilities to create more isolation capacity.
More isolation capacity is also planned by the District Administration for Pekua. Control Rooms have been established at the Civil Surgeon and DC’s Offices. A technical committee and a medical response team have been established under the lead of the Civil Surgeon.
Training on COVID-19 surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC), and clinical Management have been delivered to more than 250 health staff in the camp health facilities. This has been completed in all clinics and facilities serving the Rohingya camps.
Given the number of displaced people, the arrangements may seem inadequate, but is indeed noteworthy. Social distancing which is being recommended world-wide to arrest the spread of the virus remains quite unworkable in camp areas given the proximity between each camp. Thus, the government may consider re-establishing tele-network to strengthen communication as well as awareness to help fight the outbreak. Mobilising the community to respond to this present crisis remains crucial in present times.
Nepal: Amidst the global pandemic, assessing the preparedness
Sohini Nayak
COVID-19 disease has taken the world by storm, while being referred to as an international emergency and a ‘
pandemic’ by the World Health Organization. In this circumstance, the small Himalayan country of Nepal has been treading very cautious steps to contain any further escalation of the situation within its territory, beyond the
single case declared on 25 January. Even though the suspected individual -- a Nepali studying at Wuhan, the once epicentre of the virus, was tested negative a few days later, all meaningful measures have been brought about to ensure the safety of the citizens.
Given the highly open India-Nepal border and the dependence that Nepal has on both China and India, especially with regard to the presence of Nepalese in Chinese and Indian academic institutions or the labour market, to mention two, risk of the disease transgressing across the border has been considered very high. Consequently, many critiques pointed out that Nepal would inevitably fall into a defenceless and vulnerable situation, given its economy and size, if not helped by the other major neighbours in the region.
Moreover, Nepal might not be able to survive a
major blow on its ‘remittance, tourism, foreign investments and availability of jobs’. This seemed all the more relevant because Nepal is just recovering from the trauma of the 2015 earthquake, as well as the economic blockade that had left the country shook and is often mentioned as a ‘humanitarian crisis’.
Help from India, China
Nonetheless, Nepal was strong and sensitive enough to ask for assistance from the neighbouring countries like India and China. In the recent message from Prime Minister K. P Sharma Oli, clear indication that Nepal would majorly rely upon assistance from the region was clear. Even though Oli promised help of 100 million Nepalese Rupees to the SAARC Emergency Fund, the financial after-effects of the situation must be thought through and carefully calculated.
It must be mentioned here that Nepal has been enjoying free flowing trade mainly through the
border points like Tatopani, Raxaul, Sunauli, Karkarvitta, Jogabani, Gaddachauki and Jamunah. Undoubtedly, this has affected trade as the government has been very clear on restricting the long distance trucks. In addition, Nepal is also highly dependent on the
tourism industry. In the past few years this sector has been revising itself and also contributing much to the economy (7.9 per cent in 2018).
With social distancing and the ban on international tourists, the ‘occupancy rates’ have fallen, thereby creating a void in the sector. It has been argued that this industry was supposed to fill in for the decreasing growth rate in the agricultural sector. However, the targets would never be able to get fulfilled as is being observed from this outbreak. Even though the Nepal Rashtra Bank has been proactive in claiming that measures would be taken to ‘reorienting the financial facility’, with loans at cheaper rates and flexible plans for the areas which have been affected the most, only time can say how much recovery can be facilitated in actual terms.
Nepal must remain prepared in these trying times, not only to quarantine the people but also take special care of its falling economy which was on its way to empowerment after long years of crisis. Though assistance from the neighbourhood is always present, the self sufficient sectors of Nepal like energy and agriculture must not suffer in the long run. Apart from this, the steps being taken by the government are welcome and applaud worthy in such times, requiring global solidarity.
Country Reports
Afghanistan
US halts deployment
The US has decided to temporarily stop new deployments, and all movement of their military personnel in Afghanistan, owing to fears regarding the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, as stated by Gen. Scott Miller, commander of the US and NATO forces in the country. In addition, around 1,500 troops and civilians that recently arrived in the country have been duly quarantined. For a large number of troops prepared to fly back to the US, the scheduled departure has been postponed.
Safe passage for health workers
In a statement released on 18 March 2020, the Taliban declared that they would ensure safe passage for international healthcare organizations and medical personnel working to fight off the coronavirus menace in the country. The Taliban urged health agencies to provide medicines, on-ground aid and medical equipment to the areas that are under their control. So far, there have been 24 cases of the novel COVID-19.
Bangladesh
Televised address by Modi
The celebration of the birth centenary of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of freedom struggle and father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, commenced this week. To pay homage to the iconic leader, year-long celebration has been planned and the year is termed as Mujib
Borsho. A gala rally was planned for 17 March to kickstart the celebrations but this event was cancelled due to the outbreak of Corona pandemic. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, however, delivered a televised address on the occasion. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was invited as a chief guest in the grand rally, also gave a televised address.
JMB activists sentenced
A court this week sentenced four activists of the banned militant organisation Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) for murder of a priest of the minority Hindu community in the northern Panchagarh in 2016. The JMB, notorious for carrying out the country-wide bombing in August 2005, had launched a spate of attacks on the secular writers, bloggers, activists and members of religious minority communities from 2013-2016. The government had launched a massive crackdown operation and many of the group’s members have been either arrested or killed.
Bhutan
Second royal child
The second Royal Child of Their Majesties, The King and Queen, a prince, was born on 19 March at the Lingkana Palace in Thimphu. A press release from the Royal palace read, “While this remains a very happy occasion for the Royal family and the nation and people of Bhutan, Their Majesties wish to remind all Bhutanese to be mindful, responsible and supportive to each other in the wake of the Covid-19 virus.”
Stimulus for corona-hit sectors
The government will roll out an economic stimulus plan very soon to help the most affected sectors cope with the economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. According to Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, the plan will be ready latest by 23 March. As of now, the tourism sector stands the most affected and different expert groups are working on the issue. The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that this is the worst economic crisis in her living memory, and is definitely worse than the 2012 Rupee Crisis or the impact of the 2008 Global Financial crisis before that.
India
Janata curfew
As around 200 positive cases of Coronavirus had been reported in India till 20 March 2020, the central government along with the state governments have taken a slew of measures to limit the further spreading of the virus that have almost affected the entire world. While the Indian government has suspended most of the international flights coming to India, the people returning from abroad are being subjected to elaborate screening and medical examination. The states have also declared that the educational institutions and several other public offices would remain shut or would function minimally in order to avoid large public gatherings that might spread the infection. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation regarding the global outbreak of coronavirus on 19 March 2020. The telecast lasted for 30 minutes in which the Prime Minister attempted to curb the atmosphere of fear in the country as well as called upon the citizens to together participate in this struggle against coronavirus by remaining indoors and practicing social distancing as much as possible. Among the highlights of PM’s address, was a call for a 'Janata curfew' and reassurance that supply line for essentials will remain open.
Four Nirbhaya convicts executed
The four convicts of the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a New Delhi bus in 2012 were executed on 20 March 2020. The rape and murder case shone a global spotlight on shocking rates of sexual assault in India and had triggered a mass protest against crimes against women at that time. The convicts were
hanged at a jail in the Indian capital more than six years after being convicted of raping and killing the woman, known only as "Nirbhaya." The four men were convicted in 2013, but three of them appealed their death sentence to India's top court, the Supreme Court. All appeals were denied, including mercy pleas to India's President Ram Nath Kovind.
Kamal Nath quits ahead of MP Assembly floor test
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced resignation on 20 March ahead of the Supreme Court-mandated floor test in the state assembly. The Chief Minister resigned after the Speaker accepted the resignation of 22 Congress MLAs and with that the Congress lost the numbers required to prove majority in the House. The political crisis in the State was triggered by the recent exit of popular Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia that made 22 MLAs loyal to him resign, destabilizing the Kamal Nath government. After quitting the Congress, Scindia joined the BJP and got a Rajya Sabha election ticket from the saffron party. In an attempt to restore normalcy and ascertain who enjoys majority in Madhya Pradesh, the Supreme Court on 19 March ordered the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker to conduct a floor test on 20 March ahead of which CM Kamal Nath chose to resign.
Maldives
LG polls in 2021?
Though COVID-19 begun to come under control, the Election Commission has announced the decision to postpone the nation-wide local council elections, slated for 4 April to a fortnight later. Under the law, the EC has to obtain a court order or Parliament has to pass an amendment law to postpone polls beyond the period. The EC formally moved the High Court but withdrew the same after Parliament indicated that they are keen on passing the amendment. Indications are that the polls may be put off until after January 2021, to provide for economic recovery and related issues to be addressed.
Myanmar
FDI growth
Myanmar has attracted more than US$2.7 billion in foreign direct investments over the past five months of the current fiscal, an increase of $1billion compared with the corresponding period of the previous FY. According to DICA statistics, 136 foreign enterprises have obtained permits from the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and endorsements from regional and state Investment Committees between 1 October and 6 March in the current fiscal, bringing in the capital of $2.7 billion.
Call to lift internet ban
The Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC), a Sittwe-based relief group that assists internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region, issued a statement calling on Myanmar Government officials to reinstate internet access and provide information on COVID-19 to residents of the nine townships. The group said that the restoration of the service is vital for IDPs who do not have access to radio, television, or electricity to get news and information.
Nepal
Call for ‘response team’
Amidst the crucial situation revolving around the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, Nepal has requested India to help it with a ‘response team’. However, it is still unofficial, as mentioned by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. This request may be resulting from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s readiness to provide help to the neighbouring countries and the consequent video call among the leaders of SAARC with a USD 10 million fund.
$ 1.5-m UNDP deal
The Nepalese government has been trying its level best to fully utilize its national capital- energy. In this regard, a major welcome step has been the $ 1.5 million deal between the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), the main agency for ‘renewable energy promotion’ in Nepal under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has funded the project under Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Power Extension Project along with the participation of UNDP. Hopefully, the hydro power projects will receive a better outcome.
Pakistan
Amid COVID-19, President visits China
Pakistani President Arif Alvi arrived in Beijing on 16 March for a two-day visit to convey Islamabad's support to and solidarity with China against the Covid-19 pandemic. The president was accompanied by a delegation including Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning and other senior officials. The visit was marked by exceptional warmth, convergence of views, and strategic trust that characterise the China-Pakistan "All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership."
Kashmir ‘a fake concern’
Pakistan used the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nation’s video conference on coronavirus to raise the Kashmir issue when the country's State Minister of Health Zafar Mirza called for immediate lifting of the "lock-down" in the Kashmir Valley to allow virus containment measures. The regional initiative was started at the behest of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modiwhere he urged the leaders of South Asia to take unite in the fight against COVID-19. All the heads of SAARC nations lauded the initiative and participated in it. Mr. Modi pledged $10million fund for fighting the pandemic; however, Zafar Mirza used the occasion to raise Kashmir, demanding the lifting of the "lockdown" in the newly formed Indian Union Territory.New Delhi slammed Pakistan stating that Islamabad had once again exposed its real intentions by exploiting the humanitarian occasion as political platform for its vested interests.
ADB comes for rescue
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered $350 million help to Pakistan to fight the coronavirus pandemic, even as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases have jumped to 458. Provinces of Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have registered a worrying increase of confirmed cases in the past few days. Pakistan’s public health system has a poor track record of in early detection and response to outbreak of any major infectious disease. With the ADB’s offer, total lending being provided by the ADB and the World Bank to Pakistan stands at $588 million.
Sri Lanka
Corona curfew
With corona virus threat increasing more than in the previous week, President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered a nation-wide weekend police curfew, to check the pandemic’s spread to contact. The curfew commenced at 6 pm on Friday and was originally scheduled to be lifted by Monday morning. However, the Government has since extended the curfew by a day, to Tuesday morning. Across the country, newspapers too shut down operations even as police picked up those violated the curfew, as the Government had declared prison term for such offence.
Bibliography
Afghanistan
Opinion Pieces
Beatrice Walton, “
The US-Taliban Agreement: Not a Ceasefire, or a Peace Agreement, and Other International Law Issues”,
Just Security, 19 March 2020
David Zucchino, “
Honouring Female Strength in Afghanistan”, The New York Times, 19 March 2020
Catherine Putz, “
US Diplomats Urge Afghans to Put Political Squabbles Aside”,
The Diplomat, 19 March 2020
Sushant Sareen and Shubhangi Pandey, “
Rethinking the Post-Withdrawal Strategy in Afghanistan”,
Observer Research Foundation, 16 March 2020
Editorials
The Afghanistan Times, “
Cease Panic Buying”, 18 March 2020
The Kabul Times, “
Nowruz Amid Fear of COVID-19 Outbreak”, 19 March 2020
Bangladesh
Opinion Pieces
Sajeed Wazed Joy, “
My grandfather, the father of Bangladesh”,
Dhaka Tribune, 18 March 2020
Ashikur Rahman, “
Taking Bangladesh story forward”,
Dhaka Tribune, 18 March 2020
Bhutan
Editorials
Kuensel, “
When a nation smiles”, 20 March 2020
India
Opinion Pieces
C.N. Krishna, "
Need for re-orientation",
The Hindu, 20 March 2020
Gautam Bhatia, "
Giving human Rights Commissions more teeth",
The Hindu, 20 March 2020
Faizan Mustafa, "
An SC verdict violative of minority rights",
The Hindu, 20 March 2020
Ban Ki-moon, "
Protecting India: Nation must stay with vision of founding fathers to fight threat to secular democracy",
The Indian Express, 20 March 2020
Kartikeya Tanna, "
Justice Gogoi is best placed to be a non-partisan conduit between legislature, judiciary",
The Indian Express, 19 March 2020
Editorials
The Hindu, "
Drastic, but necessary: On Supreme Court stripping Manipur Minister of his office", 20 March 2020
The Hindu, "
Waiting for Rajini: On the super star’s politics", 20 March 2020
The Indian Express, "
The disconnected", 20 March 2020
The Indian Express, "
Breach of trust", 19 March 2020
Myanmar
Opinion Pieces
Amb Lee Sang-Hwa, “
Pandemic Makes Case for Partnership Between ROK and Myanmar, Other Mekong Nations”,
The Irrawaddy, 19 March 2020
Aung Zaw, “
The Myanmar Govt Has Been Spared a Real Test on Coronavirus—but No One’s Luck Lasts Forever”,
The Irrawaddy, 16 March 2020
Nepal
Opinion Pieces
Pranab Kharel and Gaurab KC, “Your ‘rightful’ place”,
Republica, 19 March 2020
Deepak Thapa, “The cost of a pandemic”,
The Kathmandu Post, 19 March 2020
Saugat Gautam, “Combating misinformation”,
Republica, 18 March 2020
Editorials
The Kathmandu Post, “A House in disarray”, 20 March 2020
The Himalayan Times, “Abide by rules”, 20 March 2020
Pakistan
Opinion Pieces
Khurram Hussain,” The Contagion has landed “,
Dawn, 19 March 2020
Androulla Kaminara, “Fostering Pak-EU Ties”
The Express Tribune, 17 March 2020
Ashaar Rehman, “
Process of elimination”,
Dawn, 20 March 2020
Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, “
Global vaccine”,
Dawn, 20 March 2020
Inam ul Haq, “
Battling the virus — random thoughts”,
The Express Tribune, 19 March 2020
Naeem Sadiq, “
Can Covid-19 trigger digital revolution in Pakistan?”,
The Express Tribune, 19 March 2020
Faisal Ali Raja, “
The corona challenge”,
The Express Tribune, 19 March 2020
Sri Lanka
Opinion Pieces
Kelum Bandara
, “Postponement of elections”,
Daily Mirror Online, 19 March 2020
N Sathiya Moorthy,
“Voter is the master, and he knows it too”,
Ceylon Today, 17 March 2020
Jehan Perera,
“Paying the political cost of COVID-19 for people’s interests”,
The Island, 17 March 2020
N Sathiya Moorthy,
“Pandemic and Parliament polls”,
Colombo Gazette, 16 March 2020
Contributors
Afghanistan: Shubhangi Pandey
Bangladesh: Joyeeta Bhattacharjee
Bhutan: Mihir Bhonsale
India: Ambar Kumar Ghosh
Maldives & Sri Lanka: N Sathiya Moorthy
Myanmar: Sreeparna Banerjee
Nepal: Sohini Nayak
Pakistan: Ayjaz Wani
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