members as "community doctors". Interviews conducted with several unauthorized
practitioners revealed that some of them doubt the severity of Covid-19, questioning the
existence of the virus even after the first cases had already been officially recorded.
Despite their lack of formal qualifications, camp residents continue to seek out these
unauthorized health practitioners for health advice and treatment amidst the pandemic.
(5) Messages for (international) humanitarian agencies and government actors
In the latest round of interviews, community members emphasized the desire to return
home to Myanmar. Many remained critical of the practices of some NGO workers in the
camps. Some humanitarians continued to fail to wear masks all of the time, and a more
general concern was that in light of the draw-down of humanitarian services INGOs and
other humanitarians were simply less present in the camps. As found in the ‘Flash
Report’, community members sincerely desire more meaningful engagement with
humanitarian agencies and international actors whose decision-making impacts life in
the camps. In the absence of strong two-way communication, they continue to feel that
things are happening to them without their input or control. Several respondents also
accused NGOs of focusing more on taking photographs for donors, or putting up
banners and posters about Covid-19, instead of providing meaningful help. All of this
could have serious implications for how community attitudes evolve with respect to
lockdown measures and Covid-19-related advice disseminated in the coming months.
For more information: Please contact Dr. Rebecca Sutton, Edinburgh Law School
(Rebecca.sutton@ed.ac.uk).
3