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Rohingya Camp Lockdown Diary 25th March 2020 -

On 24th March, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the government of Bangladesh announced a lockdown in the Rohingya camps located in Ukhiya and Teknaf. The lockdown was to start the very next day on 25th March. I am Noor Hossain, a Rohingya refugee. This is my diary of the lockdown. It is an extension of my daily posts on twitter.

Panic buying on 24th March after announcement of lockdown

Kutupalong Bazar 24th March

25th March: Lockdown starts

25th March - posters in Burmese language. Click to expand.

26th March: Most shops were shuttered. According to the instructions of the RRRC only certain types of stores could remain open. These pics are from Kutupalong market.

A section from the RRRC order.
26th March

Kutupalong Market - 26th March

Some grocery shops remained open. Inside the camp, tea stalls and street food shops also remained open despite the order.

27th March - Friday. My local mosque was more full than usual. Social Distancing was not observed.

Mosque entrance with shoes of worshippers

28th March: hand washing.

28th March - Kids being taught by BRAC volunteer how to wash hands

29th March: Not much social distancing in the camps even though posters and instructions mention keeping away from others.

Kutupalong registered camp field

Coronavirus prevention poster

A lot of funny messages and videos are passed around about the coronavirus. As most people don't have internet, they don't see these. Nor do they see the important information about disease prevention.

30 March: I become frustrated when I see people ignoring the prevention measures.

31st March: No social distancing measures taken by SHED in this token distribution. I spoke to them and they said they were not given any instructions. They made a phone call and someone from BRAC phoned me to say that this would not happen again after this.

Camp 2E Block A3 - token distribution by SHED
Camp 2E Block A3 - token distribution by SHED
Created By
Noor Hossain
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Credits:

Images by Noor Hossain. Words by Noor Hossain as related to Shafiur Rahman.