Three years ago, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fled into Cox's Bazar. They are still living there today. They have few rights and work is hard to find. Every year, heavy monsoon rains pound the region and threaten to wash away what little they have.
Now Covid has arrived.
The Rohingya refugees are very vulnerable. 860,000 people are living in a small area, homes are small, close together and overcrowded. Social distancing is very difficult.
Women and girls will be most at risk. We are already seeing gender-based violence has massively increased since the start of the pandemic. Heightened fear of catching the disease will compound the situation.
There is a lot of uncertainty and fear over coronavirus. At the start of the pandemic, I was scared. But as a humanitarian worker, I told myself I cannot stay working at home.
I feel proud that I can stand beside the women and girls in the camp during this time. And I am grateful for the walkers of Cox's Bazar. I thank them for shining a light on these important issues, and for fighting for a better future.
