An Agenda for a Dignified and Sustainable Rohingya Refugee Response in Bangladesh information, reporting issues, making urgent service referrals and maintaining contact with their relatives and friends in Myanmar and elsewhere. Many were able to access SIM cards through irregular channels.70 Between September 2019 and August 2020, telecommunications restrictions were in place in the Rohingya camps following directions from Bangladeshi authorities to restrict 3G/4G services and stop sale of SIM cards to Rohingya refugees.71 SIM cards were confiscated from Rohingya refugees on the grounds of unauthorised access and allegations of involvement of Rohingya in criminal activities over the internet.72 These restrictions have also affected surrounding host community’s access to telecommunications. These restrictions impacted communities’ ability to access humanitarian services, particularly during medical emergencies and monsoon/cyclone response. Such restrictions also prevented Rohingya refugees from contacting their families and friends in Myanmar and accessing accurate information about prevailing conditions in Rakhine State to make well-informed decisions about their future possibility of return to Myanmar.73 In August 2020, these restrictions were officially lifted by the Government of Bangladesh74 but connectivity remained slow continuing to affect mobile and internet access in the camps and neighbouring areas. During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic when it was unsafe to conduct door-to door information and awareness campaigns, non-availability of telecommunications services 75contributed to the spread of rumours and misinformation, increased fear of stigma and discrimination due to confidentiality breaches of personal health-related information and discriminatory public perceptions of Rohingya being carriers of the virus, lack of clarity on isolation and treatment facilities and fear of family separation. These factors along with pre-existing concerns such as trust deficit in healthcare systems/ providers, quality of dignified and effective care and negative encounters with the Myanmar healthcare system, discouraged Rohingya refugees from accessing health services, reporting COVID19 symptoms and consent to testing. 3.2.1.2 Restrictions on volunteer and cash-based programmes Since 2017, Rohingya refugees have been supporting the humanitarian response through volunteer and cash-for-work programmes. These programmes include a wide range of essential activities such as sanitation work, road construction and maintenance, disaster preparedness and response, assisting with food and aid distribution, community mobilisers, health workers and supporting vulnerable refugees in accessing services. This provides a rare opportunity for Rohingya women to participate in 70 Karen McVeigh, Bangladesh imposes mobile phone blackout in Rohingya refugee camps, The Guardian, 5 September 2019, available at https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/sep/05/bangladesh-imposes-mobile-phoneblackout-in-rohingya-refugee-camps 71 No SIM card for Rohingyas, The Daily Star, 3 September 2019, available at https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/nobangladeshi-sim-card-for-rohingyas-1794595 72 Muktadir Rashid, 12,000 SIMs seised in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, New Age Bangladesh, 7 December 2019, available at http://www.newagebd.net/article/92885/12000-sims-seised-in-rohingya-camps 73 Human Rights Watch, Bangladesh: Internet Blackout on Rohingya Refugees, 13 September 2019, available at https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/09/13/bangladesh-internet-blackout-rohingya-refugees 74 Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, 3G, 4G internet restored in Rohingya camps, Dhaka Tribune, 28 August 2020, available at https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/rohingya-crisis/2020/08/28/3g-4g-internet-restored-in-rohingya-camps 75 For details, See, ACAPS COVID-19 Explained Series, available at https://www.acaps.org/country/bangladesh/specialreports#container-1515 Act for Peace / May 2021 23