In addition to vehicle donation, IOM provided additional support to individuals in Cox’s Bazar as part of the ongoing COVID-19 response.

IOM distributed 30 infrared thermometers, 3,000 locally produced reusable cloth-masks, 500 bottles of sanitizer and 500 bottles of liquid soaps to the Cox’s Bazar district administration, it said.

Cox’s Bazar’s Deputy Commissioner Md. Kamal Hossain, who also serves as the Chairman of the College Managing Committee, received all the support and the vehicle from Clementine Favier, Head of Humanitarian Assistance and Operations at IOM Cox’s Bazar.

The event was held at Hill Down Circuit House in Cox’s Bazar.

Ashraful Afsar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Cox’s Bazar; Md Shahjahan Ali, Additional District Magistrate of Cox’s Bazar and Patrick Charignon, Head of the Transition and Recovery Division at IOM Cox’s Bazar were present at the event, among others.

Cox’s Bazar DC Md. Kamal Hossain sai, “The Bangladeshi Government is grateful to IOM for their continuous support for host community people, especially for the students in Cox’s Bazar city. We would be glad if they can also extend this kind of aid in other districts of Bangladesh.”

IOM Cox’s Bazar Humanitarian Assistance and Operations Head Clementine Favier said, “IOM sees this as an important initiative, and we hope with it host community students will have enhanced access to education and adequate specialized care.”

She also said, “IOM always stands with the first responders in any crisis as well as the host community people. We are working in a coordinated way with government and other agencies to ensure an effective response.”

This year, the UN Migration Agency has donated two pick-up vehicles for local police and a 30-seat coaster bus to Cox’s Bazar’s Arunodoy School, a specialized school for children with disabilities.

IOM Cox’s Bazar has so far distributed 30,000 locally produced reusable cloth-masks, 8,000 bottles of liquid soap, 8,000 bottles of sanitizer and 30 infrared thermometers to a number of communities including Cox’s Bazar freedom fighters, local administration, law enforcement agencies, journalists, fire brigade and cyclone preparedness programme volunteers in the Cox’s Bazar district.