ABSTRACT
For many years, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have been the target of extreme racism and violence, leaving them displaced and without resources. Rohingya refugees, as well as others such as Syrian and South Sudanese refugees, tend to show poor health conditions and lack health literacy needed to protect themselves from the threat of COVID-19. Social isolation, usage of face masks, and constant hand sanitation are vital in preventing the contraction of the virus, however, for refugee populations, these health guidelines are nearly impossible to follow. While impoverished conditions at camps significantly enable the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the lack of risk communication targeting the comprehension needs of refugees has further added to the threat. Communication challenges place refugee populations at a greater risk of contracting and spreading the virus. In order to protect these vulnerable communities, host country governments must address these obstacles by increasing access to risk communication targeting the needs of refugee populations.
