An Agenda for a Dignified and Sustainable Rohingya Refugee Response in Bangladesh unrealistic expectations within the community about the impact of these proceedings on citizenship and repatriation etc.128 The gaps in information related to international justice mechanisms have a bearing on refugees’ ability to make informed decisions about their future. Given the focus on refugee repatriation, humanitarian agencies have so far been reluctant to be involved in awareness raising on international justice mechanisms lest they be perceived to be engaging in actions discouraging returns despite the demonstrated need for more information in this regard.129 3.2.5 Secondary protection impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated pre-existing protection risks for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Since April 2020, the humanitarian footprint in the camps, including protection presence, has been significantly reduced in order to manage the spread of COVID-19, with only critical life-saving programmes being allowed such as health, food distribution, LPG distributions, COVID-19 information hubs and reception of new refugee arrivals.130 Services related to protection, sitemanagement, shelter repairs, livelihoods and education were deemed as ‘non-essential’ during this period. In August 2020, following strong advocacy by the humanitarian community for gradual expansion of services, the RRRC allowed the implementation of a few protection activities such as reporting of safety and security concerns, GBV referrals, anti-trafficking messaging, addressing individual cases, psychosocial support etc.131 In April 2021, due to the overall deterioration of the COVID-19 situation in Bangladesh, the RRRC office directed that the total humanitarian presence in the camps be reduced by 50 per cent and the scope of activities be limited again.132 The spread of COVID-19 has so far been contained in the camps, with 465 reported cases and 10 deaths as of April 2021.133 Rohingya refugees have also been included in national vaccination plans, with prioritised access for the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, frontline health workers, volunteers and teachers.134 However, the overall living conditions in the camps have deteriorated increasing their vulnerability and contributing to feelings of insecurity.135 Multi-sector needs assessments from mid-2020 show that priority needs during COVID-19 were access to shelter 128 Verena Holzl, Three years after Rohingya exodus, mismatched expectations of justice, The New Humanitarian, 24 August 2020, available at https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2020/08/24/Bangladesh-Myanmar-Rohingyainternational-justice 129 Ibid. 130ACAPS-NPM, COVID-19 and Secondary Impacts, 7 July 2020, available at https://www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/files/products/files/20200707_acaps_covid19_secondary_impacts_in_rohingya_refugee_camps.pdf 131 RRRC memo of 24 August 2020 available on file with the author. 132 RRRC memo of 2 April 2020 available on file with the author. 133 WHO, Rohingya Crisis Situation Report #7, 16 March 2021, available at https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/defaultsource/searo/bangladesh/bangladesh---rohingya-crisis---pdf-reports/sitreps/2021/who-cox-s-bazar-situation-report7.pdf?sfvrsn=a53fffc2_11 134 Louise Donovan and Iffeath Yasmine, Rohingya refugees and local Bangladeshis benefit from inclusive COVID-19 response, UNHCR, 18 March 2021, available at https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2021/3/60531db51d/rohingya-refugees-localbangladeshis-benefit-inclusive-covid-19-response.html 135ACAPS, supra n. 94. Act for Peace / May 2021 31