Terms of Reference for Faith-based Leaders
October 2020

Assessing the role and impact of messaging from faith leaders on mitigating the effects of COVID-19 among the Rohingya Refugee communities in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh.

Background
COVID-19 is directly impacting the most vulnerable section of the communities, including the Rohingya Refugee community who are living in a congested camp with inadequate hygiene facilities and other basic services. Approximately 1.2 million Rohingya Refugee community live in 27 camps in two sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar district. Further, loss of income or livelihood of the vulnerable  groups (women headed households, persons with disability, aged people, etc.) has forced them to adopt negative coping mechanisms risking long-term implications such as relying on less nutritious foods, reducing portion size and number of meals, restricting adults consumption etc .

Cox's Bazar is one of the districts where the number of COVID-19 positive cases are high (in comparison of other districts in Bangladesh, other than Dhaka). The total fatality rate is 29%. WHO has reported over 4,760 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cox’s Bazar, among which, 261 cases are of Rohingya Refugee community in the camps. 68 host community members and 8 refugees have died from COVID-19 as of 9th October 2020. Only critical activities (health service, WASH, food distribution, LPG distribution, and nutrition service) with limited movement are currently allowed in camps to control the risk of disease spreading. There is an increased risk of COVID-19 spreading in the Rohingya Refugee  camps due to vulnerabilities like lack of handwashing facilities, limited numbers of toilets per household, a mere 5-9 health post per 20000 individuals, 15% of households with at least one person with a disability or chronic illness, etc. (source: UNHCR data). Cox’s Bazar district was placed under the red zone by the Government of Bangladesh authorities and has recently seen easing of restrictions in September 2020. There is a strong feeling amongst Humanitarian Agencies that once the authority lifts the restriction completely without considering the risks and mitigation measure, the situation, especially in camps, will turn worse and will cause a massive number of fatalities and positive cases across the host community and refugee camps.

The Rohingya Refugee  communities are predominantly Muslim and their religious leaders are generally the prayer leader (Imam) or the person responsible for the call of prayer (Muazzin) in the Muslim communities. In studies carried out by WHO, BBC Media Action and ACAPs, Rohingya refugees have reported believing that COVID-19 is a punishment and test from Allah as an examination of their faith. Many Rohingya Refugee believe that the virus, not having a clear medical ‘cure’, is evidence that COVID-19 is a punishment sent by Allah to test them and their piety.

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