Germany donates 2m euro to IOM for Covid-19 response in Bangladesh

Germany has provided the International Organisation for Migration with two million euros to support the UN migration agency's Covid-19 response in Bangladesh.

With support from the German Federal Foreign Office, IOM will expand the provision of essential health services to Rohingya refugees and vulnerable members of the host community, said a press release sent today.

Besides, IOM will extend support to the Bangladesh government to build capacity at points of entry in Cox's Bazar to identify, screen, and refer ill travelers, the release said.

"We are glad to further support IOM's Covid-19 response in Bangladesh. Expanding the provision of essential health services to Rohingya refugees and vulnerable members of the host community in Cox's Bazar is essential to prevent further spread of the virus and to treat and educate the people accordingly," said Peter Fahrenholtz, German ambassador to Bangladesh.

"We are grateful to the government of Germany for their support that enables us to continue providing emergency health support to vulnerable communities, especially the Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar who are almost entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance," said Giorgi Gigauri, IOM's chief of mission in Bangladesh.

The release said the generous funding will enable IOM, among other initiatives, to establish three isolation and treatment centers, repurpose 100 mid-term shelters for quarantine and isolation of mild cases, and support the cash-for-work programme to build the resilience of affected families in the Rohingya camps and settlements.

Since March, IOM has constructed three severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) isolation and treatment centers (ITCs) for patients with Covid-19 with a total capacity of 215 beds, it further said.