Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps she has taken to ensure the resumption and continuation of critical (a) routine-vaccination, (b) sexual and reproductive health and (c) gender-based violence services in Cox's Bazar Bangladesh following the covid-19 outbreak.

We are pressing the UN and NGOs to resume vaccinations in the camps in Cox’s Bazar. WHO is supporting health authorities at national and local levels and the Government of Bangladesh recently introduced a new strategy and workplan to resume vaccination outreach in all camps. Routine vaccination sessions were reduced during the initial stages of the pandemic but are now gradually improving at the national level.

The Government of Bangladesh decided early in the crisis to deliver the national ‘Essential Service Package’ to the refugees, which includes contraceptive options, ante and post-natal care, midwifery services, and menstruation products. These are currently designated as critical services, alongside distribution of hygiene kits.

UK aid-supported gender-based violence (GBV) activities are being implemented across 34 camps, in 35 women friendly spaces/integrated women centres. The UK has provided an additional £400,000 to UNFPA for GBV services. Part of this funding is focused on ensuring critical GBV and child protection services keep operating for all those who need them, and includes disseminating anti-GBV messaging and activities with adolescent boys and girls.