UNICEF, a UN agency for children, has lauded the efforts of the Bangladesh government to vaccinate Rohingya refugees living in the country. Over a million refugees live in cramped camps of Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh. Authorities on Tuesday started vaccinating them. 

 "We are grateful to the Government of Bangladesh for having included Rohingya refugees in the vaccination campaign," Johannes Van Der Klaauw, UNHCR representative in Bangladesh, was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune. 

In the first phase, which will continue till 17 August, around 48,000 people will get the first dose of vaccines. Over 5000 people are being administered vaccines on a daily basis. 

The agency said the equitable inclusion of Rohingyas in the allocation of vaccines is critical to curbing the spread of the ongoing pandemic.

"The Rohingya refugee and host community volunteers have an essential frontline role in containing the spread of Covid-19 in the camps. The first step in fully protecting communities, however, is through the rollout of vaccination," Johannes said on Wednesday. 

Despite the ramped-up vaccination across the country, the positivity rate, which remains around 30 percent, is still too high. 

International agencies like the Red Cross and other UN agencies are helping the government to vaccinate the refugees. Health facilities in camps were recently damaged due to landslides and floods caused by heavy rains a few days back. 

(SAM)