Nearly a million #Rohingya refugees reside in densely packed camps in Coxbazar, Bangladesh. We conducted surveys of representative samples of refugees and Bangladeshi hosts living near camps after #COVID19 crisis hit. Alarming findings out in @WHOBulletin: https://www.who.int/bulletin/online_first/20-265173.pdf

Both hosts and refugees face significant economic distress.
59% of hosts and 72% of refugees unable to buy essential items.
Sharp decrease in employment: 76% of males in host communities were employed in July 2019, but only 21% today.
Coauthors: Paula Lopez-Pena @caustindavis

25% of Rohingyas and 13% of hosts report at least one COVID symptom (defined as per WHO guidelines).
Many are high-risk w/ underlying disease.
Economic vulnerability doubles the odds of COVID symptoms.
Living in communities with recent migrant returnees triples the odds.

Knowledge of COVID and protective measures is high, but the practice of social distancing is limited.

Especially concerning: even before Ramadan, 77% of Rohingya and 58% of hosts attended Friday Jummah prayers.

How to address this? We @YaleRISE are working through local Imams, community leaders, and trusted sources of information (friends/neighbors), to spread info and encourage protective behaviors. Phone-based messaging RCT almost completed to test approach and then scale. Stay tuned

The Rohingya in Bangladesh are uniquely vulnerable in this #COVIDー19 cris. Our data show acute economic stress and disease vulnerability. Our UNHCR partners ( @Refugees) and the international community must act quickly. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1915164/why-rohingya-refugees-are-fleeing-bangladesh

Coauthors: Paula López-Peña, @caustindavis, Shabib Raihan @poverty_action, Bangladesh.