The entire country, indeed the whole world, is busy dealing with the various ramifications of the Covid-19, but without a doubt, some communities are more vulnerable than others.
The Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh have always been particularly vulnerable to an outbreak, due to a lack of adequate hygiene, and close, cramped living conditions.
Right now, on top of that, there are looming worries of what a cyclone might do. Bangladesh has always been a cyclone-prone country, but our cyclone and monsoon preparedness have never been adequate.
In the time of a pandemic, there is a danger that one disaster will be neglected by dealing with another. We should not, however, let that happen.
There are standing orders from the government to prepare for a possible cyclone event, and to that end, it is good to see that the humanitarian community has put into place a 72-hour response plan for extreme weather events in cooperation with not only the deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, but also the local authorities in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas, the armed forces, and the refugee, relief, and repatriation commissioner (RRRC).
It must be understood that the Covid-19 pandemic and potential extreme weather events are not mutually exclusive; the adverse effects of one can spill over into the other, multiplying the difficulties of coping.
As such, it is imperative that there are adequate stocks of emergency supplies such as food, tarpaulins, ropes, floor mats, and water purification tablets in the warehouses.
