Vulnerable regions require immediate support to cope with impacts of COVID-19 in Bangladesh

Because of COVID-19 outbreak, more than hundred people already died and there have been about five thousand people infected. so as to curb the transmission, the govt. has put in situ lockdown and travel restrictions. Countries like Bangladesh with about 20% extreme poor households and a higher number of individuals with unsustainable livelihood dependency, can anticipate severe socio-economic and humanitarian impacts because of the present COVID-19 situation. The anticipated dengue outbreak, upcoming cyclone and monsoon seasons will further aggravate the humanitarian needs of the foremost vulnerable groups within the coming months.

CARE Bangladesh hosts Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG) under which government organizations, UN agencies and non-government organizations have moved together for evaluating the socio economic impacts caused by ongoing COVID-19 under Coordination of Humanitarian Coordination Task Team of Bangladesh.

NAWG’s ‘Multi-sectoral anticipatory impact analysis and needs assessment’ aims to supply a rapid overview of the impact of ongoing COVID-19 health emergency, its inevitable effects on most vulnerable groups/sectors and proposals for multi-sectoral response plans.

“The French Poet Paul Valery said “The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be”. His words cannot be more true than as they are now. Just over 2 months ago the world had grand plans for 2020; now we look with uncertainty towards a future unknown. This report presents an anticipatory assessment that estimates humanitarian and developmental needs and challenges in a fast evolving crisis both locally and globally. I am personally impressed by the depth of analysis and boldness of projections presented here that provide all of us with a solid starting point in responding to the COVID-19 crisis in Bangladesh. I commend the team that worked to come up with this useful document and the obvious pride of having CARE as a co-chair of the NAWG that coordinated the development of the report.”- said Walter Mwasaa, interim country director of Bangladesh.

“Ongoing COVID-19 health crisis may turn into a humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing lockdown situation which is going to potentially impact the poor and marginalized people in terms of demographic and socio-economic status. This multi-sectoral anticipatory impact and needs analysis was conducted by following the rigorous participatory process with the contribution of more than 65 humanitarian organizations (Government, NGOS, INGO, UN agencies). I believe, the findings of this report will be effective for response planning and resource mobilization by all Government and non-Government humanitarian agencies and this the high time when we must act together”, said Kaiser Rejve, Director, Humanitarian and Resilience, CARE Bangladesh. 

Though the effects are anticipated country wide, formed on five key composite indicators risk of exposure to COVID 19 and urban critical livelihood vulnerability, demographic and social vulnerability, economic and physical vulnerability, and recurrent disaster vulnerability most vulnerable districts are identified. The 20 districts identified as most vulnerable and high likely to be impacted socio-economically : Bandarban, Netrakona, Kishoreganj, Sunamgeanj, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Patuakhali, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Bhola, Nilphamari, Cox’s Bazar, Satkhira, Rangamati, Rangpur, Sherpur, Khulna, Barguna, Bogura and Dinajpur.

Key summaries are:

• The humanitarian vulnerabilities and needs emerging because of lockdown measures, and its resulting economic implications are nuanced for specific sectors of populations in danger, based both on geographic and socio-economic dimensions. The effect also will be most noticeable for people who are already tormented by multiple vulnerabilities and deprivations.
• More people are likely to vulnerable categories because of expected challenges. This includes people marginally above the poverty line falling below the poverty line because of the loss of income and employment during this time.
• People depend upon unsustainable, daily wage earning so as to support themselves and their families. Current situation measures have and can still severely affect daily wage earners.
• Loss income will have broader implications areas like food security, WASH, protection, health, and education
• As restrictions will likely to continue ensure public health of the broader population, people are required to depend on any savings available, government and other support measures to continue their lives under lockdown. Resorting to negative coping mechanisms is ready to extend with the foremost likely options set to be distress selling and skipping meals.
• The findings have highlighted that lockdown restrictions are already impacting food security and nutrition, with prices of essential items showing a rise. 
• Protection and safety issues such as domestic and intimate partner violence and child exploitation will likely increase and become compounded by factors such as loss of income, school closures, returning migrant workers, communities remaining under lockdown for prolonged periods, and inability to access regular safety and support mechanisms.
• Maternal mortality will likely increase with lack of necessary PPE reducing the provision of skilled midwives, and mothers choosing home births because of safety concerns and social stigma.