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Your monthly gift is critical because it helps us respond to continuing humanitarian crises and respond quickly and effectively when new ones, like COVID-19, arise.
As the leader of the IRC's COVID-19 response, I am very concerned about the virus spreading in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria. Here's why:
- In Bangladesh, the Kutupalong refugee settlement in Cox's Bazar—the world's largest refugee camp—recently confirmed its first case of COVID-19. With more than 855,000 refugees and 444,000 locals living in and around the camps, Cox's Bazar is extremely overcrowded, and refugees are living in cramped conditions ripe for the spread of the virus.
- Pakistan has become increasingly vulnerable to humanitarian crises due to regional instability, climate change and widespread poverty. Earthquakes and monsoon floods frequently affect millions, rendering them homeless and in need of food, water and shelter. The country has over 42,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19—and the government is relaxing its social distancing policies, which will likely catalyze a second wave of cases.
- In Nigeria, violence by armed groups continues, and many newly displaced Nigerians are in need of urgent services. Nigeria has confirmed nearly 6,000 cases, but anecdotal reports suggest there may be widespread outbreaks and deaths in the east of the country—an indicator that the worst is yet to come.
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