62 cases confirmed positive with the virus | View in browser [[link removed]] .


[[link removed]]
[[link removed]] (© Amnesty International)
“We escaped a genocide from Myanmar before, now we are scared about what more
suffering this pandemic will cause to us.” — Mohammed Tofail, Rohingya refugee
living in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Dear John,

For Rohingya refugees living in threadbare camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh,
COVID-19 has brought a dire new threat to their already difficult lives .

Nearly one million Rohingya have fled their homes in Myanmar since 2017 to
escape the military’s crimes against humanity. Cramped living conditions in the
crowded camps make COVID-19 preventative measures like physical distancing next
to impossible and the lack of safety measures and health information are
fuelling mistrust and fear.

Rohingya refugees urgently need greater protection from the impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic. Canada has committed to being a leader in responding to this
crisis, and can make a difference right now.

Take Action: Call on Canada and the international community to protect the
rights of Rohingya refugees and ensure they receive the assistance they need.
[[link removed]]


[[link removed]]

According to the latest numbers from the UNHCR, the number of identified
COVID-19 cases amongst the Rohingya refugee population is 62. However, the
frequency of tests is less than one percent of the refugee population — there
may be many undetected cases already in the community.

In addition to fears of the virus itself, the pandemic has exacerbated the dire
living conditions in the camps. Some Rohingya refugees, including women, have
been victims of harassment and coercive quarantine measures – which have stigmatized people in the community with health conditions. This
has created fear among the Rohingya about reporting any illness or symptoms .

An ongoing restriction on access to the internet and telecommunication for the
Rohingya in the camps has limited their right to receive prompt and reliable
information about COVID-19, and to communicate with family members living
elsewhere. The pandemic has also limited the opportunity for Rohingya refugees,
particularly women, to seek legal support for sexual and gender-based violence.

Half a million Rohingya children continue to be denied access to quality
education in the refugee camps because a plan to introduce a new curriculum for
Rohingya children was postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic.

Hundreds of Rohingya have turned to dangerous journeys by boat in attempt to
find safe refuge. But again and again, governments in the region invoked
COVID-19 as a reason for aggressively warding off the boats from their coasts
and back into desolate open waters. In doing so, they are claiming that a
life-threatening pandemic justifies leaving hundreds more to die.

Without continued support through international cooperation, assistance and
sharing of responsibility for providing protection, the rights of the Rohingya refugees will almost certainly continue to be
violated .

Please sign Amnesty's global petition urging Canada and four other key countries
to ensure that the human rights of the Rohingya refugees are protected and that
they receive the international assistance and cooperation they urgently need at
this time.
[[link removed]]


[[link removed]]

Rohingya refugees have already survived so much – discrimination and
persecution, fleeing their homes from violence, living in overcrowded,
unsanitary camps without access to education or a livelihood. And now they face
a global pandemic. Thank you for pressing Canada and the international community to act now .

Yours sincerely,

Hilary


Hilary Homes
Crisis & Tactical Campaigner
Amnesty International Canada


p.s. The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis for
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. What the spread of this virus should teach us
is that globally we are all connected. Thank you for adding your name to this global call
[[link removed]] for Canada and other key countries to take immediate action to protect the
rights of Rohingya refugees.



[[link removed]] [[link removed]] [[link removed]] DONATE
[[link removed]]
[[link removed]]
[[link removed]]

You received this email because you requested to be informed about opportunities
to protect human rights.
If you do not wish to receive emails from Amnesty, click here
[[link removed]] .


Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking)
312 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1H9 1-800-AMNESTY (266-3789)
Charitable Registration # 11878 5914 RR0001


View Amnesty's privacy policy [[link removed]]