Vulnerable regions require support to fight Covid-19: NAWG

Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG)​ said vulnerable regions require immediate support to cope with the impacts of a coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh.

Countries such as Bangladesh with about 20 percent extreme poor households and higher number of people with unsustainable livelihood dependency, can anticipate severe socio-economic and humanitarian impacts due to the current Covid-19 situation, it said in a joint needs' assessment report.

The anticipated dengue outbreak, upcoming cyclone and monsoon seasons will further aggravate the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable groups in the coming months, said the assessment undertaken by humanitarian stakeholders in Bangladesh.

Twenty districts -- Bandarban, Netrakona, Kishoreganj, Sunamganj, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Patuakhali, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Bhola, Nilphamari, Cox's Bazar, Satkhira, Rangamati, Rangpur, Sherpur, Khulna, Barguna, Bogura and Dinajpur -- have been identified as most vulnerable and highly likely to be impacted socio-economically.

Key findings of the report are -- the humanitarian vulnerabilities and needs emerging as a result of lockdown measures, and its resulting economic implications will be nuanced for specific sectors of at risk populations, based both on geographic and socio-economic dimensions.

The impact will also be most pronounced for people who are already suffering from multiple vulnerabilities and deprivations.

People rely on unsustainable, daily wage earning in order to support themselves and their families. Current situation measures have and will continue to severely affect daily wage earners.

Loss of income will have broader implications areas such as food security, health, and education as restrictions will likely continue to ensure public health of the wider population. People will be required to rely on any savings available, government and other support measures to continue their lives under lockdown.

Resorting to negative coping mechanisms is set to increase with the most likely options set to be distress selling and skipping meals.

The findings of the non-government organisation have highlighted that lockdown restrictions are already impacting food security and nutrition, with prices of essential items showing an increase.

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 a lack of necessary PPE, reducing the availability of skilled midwives, and mothers opting for home births due to safety concerns and social stigma.