Higher risk of COVID-19 infection among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar under the military coup

摘要

Access to healthcare has been difficult for over a thousand internallydisplaced people (IPDs) living in camps even before the COVID-19pandemic surge in Myanmar. Amidst the pandemic crisis, the coupd’etat state power on February 1, 2021, and arbitrary detained allelected officials. Subsequently, over a hundred thousand civilians weredisplaced from their homes due to the intensified conflict between themilitary, ethnic armed groups, and people’s defence force (PDF). Themilitary attacks on IDP camps, deliberately blockings all humanitarianaid to IDPs, including medical packages and food pack supplies morevulnerable to contracting an infection. Many of IDPs suffer frominfectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Some testedCOVID-19 positive due to their precarious living conditions, lack ofprotective resources supplies and lack of access to healthcare. Urgentinternational community response is needed to halt the militaryinhumanity action against the people of Myanmar to curb thepandemic outbreak among the IDPs in Myanmar. Access to primaryhealthcare services is a fundamental human right. No one should beignored in vaccination in the fight against the global health pandemicbecause no one will be safe until everyone is safe.