Bangladesh - Cox's Bazar - OVERVIEW - WSC Light - ReliefWeb
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OVERVIEW - WSC Light Bangladesh - Cox’s Bazar February 2022 # of areas classified in each severity Summary phase (out of 44) Based on available data, the host and refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar in Phase 5 (Catastrophic) 0 Bangladesh have unmet water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs. Out of the Phase 4 (Critical) 0 44 classified areas located in Teknaf and Ukhia Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar, 11 are crisis situations (severity phase 3) and 33 are stressed situations (severity phase Phase 3 (Crisis) 11 2)1. This is mostly due to lack of access to improved sanitation facilities, water Phase 2 (Stressed) 33 insufficiency, and the use of risky coping mechanisms to meet basic water and sanitation needs. Phase 1 (None/minimal) 0 Methodology The WASH Severity Classification (WSC) is a new interagency global initiative led by the Global WASH Cluster, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and REACH Initiative. Developed at the global level through a participatory process, the WSC project aims to build a standardised approach to classifying the severity of WASH needs and vulnerabilities across contexts. The findings presented in this report are the product of a WSC Light exercise conducted in February 2022. Unlike standard WSC implementations, the Light approach does not include a joint analysis workshop. Instead, with the support of key WASH partners in-country, a global team of WSC analysts identified, reviewed, and processed data sources pertaining to different areas of the WSC Analytical Framework. Normally the WSC analysis considers relevant data collected from various sources six months prior to the exercise. However, given the lack of data for certain indicators, the data range was expanded to include the most recent relevant information (starting in 2019). Data was collated from a range of sources, including government databases, UN agency and I/NGO assessments. The full list of data sources used is provided at the end of the document (Annex 3). In accordance with the WSC Analysis Protocols, analysts iteratively analysed this information, producing severity classification for 10 unions and 34 refugee camps located in Cox’s Bazar, and identified the key factors driving the situation. Figure 1: WASH Severity Classification, Bangladesh, February 2022 The findings were then reviewed and validated by WASH experts in country. 1 Upazilas are the third tier of administration in Bangladesh, forming sub-units of districts.
WSC | Bangladesh 2 Figure 2: WASH Severity Classification for the refugee community of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, February 2022 Contributing Factors sources (UNHCR 2021). Forests were cleared to build settlements and Bangladesh: Key figures A massive influx of Rohingya refugees further deforestation occurred as from Myanmar in 2017, extreme unmet fuel needs led to the cutting weather events and the economic of trees and vegetation for cooking Ranking in 2020 Human ramifications of the COVID-19 133th Development Report and heating sources. The Bangladesh out of 189 countries pandemic are some of the key factors government designated Teknaf and (UNDP, 2020): affecting WASH conditions in Cox’s Ukhia Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar as Bazar. These events compounded the areas to build refugee camps. of the population live below existing structural vulnerabilities 24% the national poverty line (UNDP, 2020) in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and Ukhia Upazilas, affecting both the host This included the construction of Kutupalong settlement in Ukhia, community and the refugee which is one of the largest refugee Estimated people in population. settlements in the world (UNHCR 2021, 1.36m need in 2021 Joint WB 2021). Response Plan Rohingya Refugee Crisis (ISCG, 2021): There have been several fires in For decades Rohingya refugees camps, which have caused widespread have fled to Cox’s Bazar to escape damage and further destruction. violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. In 2021, a massive fire displaced In August 2017, waves of successive approximately 50,000 refugees violence caused a mass exodus of (UNHCR 2021). In 2022, three separate more than 742,000 Rohingya to Cox’s fires have displaced an estimated Bazar (UNHCR 2021). By 2019, more 8,000 refugees. The fires displace than 900,000 refugees were present families and destroy homes, but they in Ukhia and Teknaf Upazilas (OCHA also destroy and contaminate WASH 2021). infrastructure. UNICEF reports that The sudden increase in population the fire in Camp 16, in January 2022, led to rapid deforestation of the hill damaged 200 WASH facilities (UNICEF regions and depletion of groundwater 2022).
WSC | Bangladesh 3 Further issues in camps arise as (LDC) by 2026 (WB 2021). However, the presence of armed groups in the this projection was made prior to refugee communities continues to the COVID-19 pandemic which has grow (HRW 2021). This causes an slowed and even reversed some of increase in security threats, especially the developmental and economic at night when humanitarian actors achievements of the past several are less visible. Reports of violence years. For instance, over the past 30 in camps are fuelling calls from years, poverty in Bangladesh has the host community demanding declined from 44% to 14% in 2019. repatriation of refugees to Myanmar. This rate began to increase again and Despite tensions between the host and reached18% by the end of 2020 (WB refugee communities, Cox’s Bazar only 2021). recorded 3 security incidents from November 10th to December 10th 2021 Mobility restrictions to contain the (ACLED 2021). This was a reduction spread of the pandemic led to reduced compared to the 37 incidents reported earning opportunities, job loss and over the preceding 6-month period worsening livelihood conditions in and 57 from December 2020 to Cox’s Bazar. COVID-19 lockdowns December 2021 (ACLED 2021). have had a significant effect on day labourers and casual workers, who Natural Disasters make up a large portion of earners in Cox’s Bazar (WB 2021). The host Cox’s Bazar is susceptible to multiple community has reported sharp climate-related disasters and decreases in average earnings, while recurring extreme weather events the refugee community lost nearly all (UNHCR 2021). Cyclones, storm surges opportunities to earn as day labourers. and flooding risks remain high for all Approximately a third of host populations in this region. The risk community members who reported Ukhia refugee 25% is heightened during the monsoon being temporarily absent from work, season which lasts from June to Ukhia host 39% as a result of lockdowns, did not August (ADB 2021). As a coastal city yet regain employment (WB 2021). with low elevation, flooding during Teknaf refugee 9% Furthermore, 73% of wage-earners the monsoon season is common. from the host community, and 63% of In conjunction with the rapid Teknaf host 32% non-wage earners, reported earning deforestation that occurs locally, there lower wages than pre-pandemic level. is an increased risk of landslides for Figure 3: Percentage of households both upazilas during monsoon season WASH Impact and Outcomes relying on unimproved water sources (UNHCR 2021). (REACH 2021). Refugee communities are particularly The following section considers the vulnerable, as several of the camps specific WASH needs of the population were constructed in flood-prone areas in Cox’s Bazar. Following the mass (ADB 2021). UNHCR estimates that refugee inflow of Rohingya to the 200,000 refugees are at risk during region, existing WASH infrastructure monsoon season. Camps have flooded was put under added stress as quick and been destroyed by landslides in adaptations were required to ensure previous years (UNHCR 2021). Flooding access to basic facilities in camps. and landslides cause household and Water public WASH infrastructure to be destroyed, leading communities to Access to improved water sources engage in risky coping mechanisms varies broadly depending on the to meet their needs. In a three day population group and area. For the host period of 2021, 12,000 Rohingya were community, only 68% of households in displaced and 2,500 shelters were Teknaf and 61% in Ukhia are covered damaged or destroyed as a result by improved water sources. Access of monsoon rains (UNHCR 2021). ranges from 52% (Haldia Palong Union) Between 2018 and 2020, more than to 74% (Whykong Union).2 The refugee 250,000 Rohingya were affected by community has much higher rates, flooding and landslides (UNHCR 2021). with 91% of households in Teknaf and Economic Impact of COVID-19 75% of households in Ukhia having access to improved water sources. Bangladesh is currently ranked 134th However, there is considerable of 189 on the Human Development variance among camps reporting Index (UNDP 2021). The country is access to improved water sources, projected to graduate from the UN’s from 50% (Camp 20x) to 96% (Camps 22 ranking of Least Developed Country & 26).
WSC | Bangladesh 4 water. However, this is a major leap from 2019, when only 29% of refugees, across upazilas, had access to piped water (REACH 2019). In the refugee community, 49% of households in Teknaf camps and 58% in Ukhia faced no issues due to lack of water, compared to 73% of host communities in both upazilas. Three in ten households from the host community in the two upazilas do not have an issue related to lack of water. Aggregated data, however, hides broad geographic variations. In Sabrang Union, the percentage of households having no issue due to a lack of water is as high as 93%, while in Whykong Union it is around 63%. As for the refugee population, it also varies greatly among camps, with 81% of households in Camp 23 stating that they had no issues related to lack of water, compared to only 34% in Camp 4. Despite refugee communities facing more issues due to lack of water, higher proportions of the refugee community report having sufficient water to meet their needs. The percentage of host community households reporting having sufficient drinking water ranges from 73% (Jalia Palong & Whykong Union) to 83% (Sabrang & Raja Palong Union), while the refugee community households range from 77% (Camp 01e) to 94% (Camp01w). The most common coping mechanism for host and refugee communities lacking sufficient water is fetching water from a further source. There is considerable variance between camps, depending on local water systems. Figure 4: Percentage of households in the host community relying on unimproved This coping mechanism is particularly water sources (REACH 2021). common in camps 4 and 11, where it Most of the host community relies is practised by over 55% of households. on deep tube wells as the main water Among host communities, only the source, the second most common unions of Baharachara and Whykong source is shallow tube wells. Over have at least 25% of their households Ukhia refugee 49% the last few years, the use of piped travelling further to access water. The water has increased in the host second most common coping strategy Ukhia host 15% community. In 2020, 10% of the host (for both groups) is reducing non- communities were using piped drinking water consumption. Teknaf refugee 78% water; by 2021 this had increased to Sanitation 20% in Teknaf and 15% in Ukhia. The Teknaf host 20% refugee communities’ main source of In Teknaf’s host communities, 80% of water, across camps, is piped water. households have access to improved In the refugee communities, 78% of sanitation services, except for Sabrang Figure 5: Percentage of households reporting piped water as their primary households in Teknaf and 49% of Union, where 26% of households rely water source (REACH 2021). households in Ukhia report piped on unimproved services. In Ukhia, water as their primary source. These 80% of the host community is covered numbers are up slightly from 2020, by improved sanitation services. when 69% of refugees in Teknaf and Haldia Palong Union has the lowest 42% in Ukhia relied primarily on piped coverage at 66%, Palong Khali Union 2 Unions are the fourth tier of administration in Bangladesh, forming sub-units of upazilas.
WSC | Bangladesh 5 Figure 6: Percentage of households in the refugee community relying on unimproved water sources (REACH 2021). has the highest coverage at 88%. For main sanitation facility. Camp 21 has refugees in Teknaf, except for camps the lowest access to flush toilets in 21 (75%) and 27 (74%), all camps have Teknaf at 46%, in this camp; 48% of at least 80% of households covered households report using pit latrines by improved sanitation facilities. In (with and without slabs) as their Ukhia, camps range from 74% in Camp primary sanitation facility. Camp 5 has 11 to 92% coverage in Camp 23. the lowest access to flush toilets in Ukhia refugee 16% Ukhia at 35%, with 40% of households The most common sanitation facility using pit latrines with a slab. Ukhia host for host communities is a pit latrine 20% with slab, used by 62% of the host Men and women from the host community in Teknaf and 63% in communities were more likely to Teknaf refugee 15% Ukhia. Haldia Palong Union has the report they faced issues with latrines lowest access to pit latrines with when compared to the refugee Teknaf host 19% slabs (50%) and the highest per cent communities. In Teknaf 46% of of host households using latrines households reported that men and Figure 7: Percentage of households not with no slab (23%). In the host women faced barriers when accessing covered by improved sanitation facilities community, 15% of residents use a latrines. In the refugee community of (REACH 2021). flush toilet as their main sanitation Teknaf, 33% of households reported facility, with Whykong Union at the issues faced by women, while 34% low end and Teknaf Union having the reported issues for men. Similarly, highest proportion with 10% and 21% in Ukhia, less than 40% of refugee respectively. Both unions report that households report issues at latrines for 2% of households have no access to men and women, compared to more than 50% of households in Ukhia’s host sanitation facilities and must rely on community. For members of the host open defecation. community – both men and women, In the refugee communities, 59% of the two most common issues linked Teknaf households and 60% of Ukhia with sanitation are due to facilities households use a flush toilet as their being unclean and lacking sufficient
WSC | Bangladesh 6 continued improvement in access to soap among the refugee community. In 2019, 67% of refugees in Cox’s Bazar had access to soap (REACH 2019). By 2020, 95% of refugees, in Ukhia and Teknaf reported having access to soap. However, the host community tracks a slight decrease in soap access, with 98% of Teknaf and 94% of Ukhia having access in 2020, compared to 92% and 93% in 2021. This recent trend is concerning considering that handwashing is one of the key preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. In 2019, UNICEF found that only 53% of households in Cox’s Bazar had soap and/or detergent at their handwashing facility (MICS 2019). This indicates that the host community upazilas may fair better than other non-host upazilas within Cox’s Bazar regarding soap access. When asked to identify their top needs for 2022, only 2% of host community households in Teknaf, and 1% of Ukhia’s host community, identified hygiene items as one of their top three needs. Public Health Outcomes There is limited information on public health outcomes in Cox’s Bazar, particularly for the host community. However, UNICEF reports that nationally, 36% of children under the age of 5 are affected by some form of malnutrition such as wasting or stunting (UNICEF 2022). In 2020, UNICEF found that 11% of refugee children suffer from acute malnutrition and 30% suffer from chronic malnutrition (UNICEF 2020). Figure 8: Percentage of households in the refugee community relying on unimproved When looking at comparable sanitation services (REACH 2021). indicators from the most recent MSNA, lighting. In the refugee communities, there seems to be a considerable the main issue is the fact that facilities difference between host communities are overcrowded with long waiting and refugee communities’ queues. participation in nutrition services. Ukhia refugee 3% In Teknaf, 28% of host households Hygiene with children received services from Ukhia host 7% nutrition programs, compared with Access to soap is widespread, in both host and refugee communities, across 98% of the Teknaf refugee households. Teknaf refugee 2% Ukhia had similar results, with 27% of upazilas. In Teknaf, 92% of host and host communities and 96% of refugee Teknaf host 8% 98% of refugees have access to soap. households accessing services. The In Ukhia, 93% of host and 97% of the variance between hosts and refugees refugee community report having is also present when looking at Figure 9: Percentage of households access to soap. Baharachara (88%) malnutrition screenings with MUAC without access to soap (REACH 2021). and Whykong (87%) are the unions tape. Less than 20% of host community where access to soap remain relatively households report their children limited, with all other camps and having been screened, compared unions reporting over 90% access. to more than 80% of the refugee These numbers seem to show a households.
WSC | Bangladesh 7 Figure 10: Percentage of households in the refugee community relying on unimproved sanitation services (REACH 2021). Vaccine campaigns for refugees have June to August, as well as the ability been in place since 2017, however, of the Government, and development there have been outbreaks of cholera and humanitarian actors to react to and diphtheria in camps over the associated shocks in a timely and past few years. Covid vaccinations effective manner. are available, with 32% of Bangladesh There are currently no models to citizens having received two doses of predict the scale and severity of the the vaccine as of January 2022 (WHO 2022 monsoon season. However, 2022). The proportion of refugees Bangladesh has been experiencing who have been vaccinated against increased temperatures and erratic COVID-19 is unknown, however, rainfall patterns in the past years (ABD the government began offering 2021). Previous monsoon seasons vaccinations in camps in August 2021. Ukhia refugee 96% have triggered floods and landslides Six-Month Severity Forecast with large-scale effects in Cox’s Bazar, Ukhia host 27% including the destruction of WASH The WASH conditions in Cox’s Bazar infrastructure and displacement Teknaf refugee 98% were under a lot of strain and were of host communities and refugees, inadequate to serve the growing leading communities to engage Teknaf host 28% population during the most recent in risky coping mechanisms to influx of refugees from Myanmar in meet their basic WASH needs and August 2017. However, the situation heightening the risks of waterborne Figure 11: Percentage of households stabilized over the last three years diseases such as diarrhoea (ADB accessing nutritional services (REACH and good progress was made in terms 2021, IOM-WFP 2022). The WASH 2021). of access to basic WASH goods and infrastructure might be particularly services for both the host community prone to shocks as its maintenance and refugee population (REACH 2022, has been reduced and sporadic over forthcoming). How the WASH situation the last two years due to movement in Cox’s Bazar evolves over the next restrictions put in place as part of six months will depend mainly on the COVID-19 containment measures the weather and climate-related (REACH 2022, forthcoming). While the events associated with the annual Government, and development and monsoon season, which lasts from humanitarian actors are prioritizing
WSC | Bangladesh 8 climate-related programming, their labour and reduced earning levels current preparedness and readiness demonstrate only a slow recovery (WB to respond to climate-related shocks 2021). Without improvements in the are still below the requirement (HCTT earning potential, the strained coping 2021). As such, similar effects as in capacities are expected to remain past years will likely be observed in low and more severe WASH coping the next six months with increased mechanisms might be observed, severity of the WASH situation in especially during the monsoon season. both the host community and camps, albeit on an undetermined scale While it is difficult to predict how and uncertainty on the span of their the upcoming monsoon season will impact. affect WASH conditions in Cox’s Bazar, evidence from previous years The COVID-19 containment measures suggests that there will be widespread also reduced livelihood and income- generating opportunities, which is displacement and destruction as still affecting the households’ ability a result of flooding and landslides. to meet basic needs, especially in the This will likely be compounded by host communities, which receive the economic strain brought about no or little humanitarian assistance by the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, it (REACH 2022, forthcoming). The is probable that the WASH situation economic forecast of Cox’s Bazar will remain the same or possibly remains uncertain but the shift from deteriorate over the next six months, monthly salaried work to daily-wage depending on climate-related shocks.
Annex 1: Overview of severity analysis Teknaf Host Community Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Severity None/minimal Stressed Crisis Critical Catastrophic phase Baharchara 0% 81% 19% 0% 0% Phase 2 Nhila 0% 80% 20% 0% 0% Phase 3 Teknaf 0% 74% 26% 0% 0% Phase 3 Sabrang 0% 81% 19% 0% 0% Phase 2 Whykong 0% 84% 16% 0% 0% Phase 2 Teknaf Refugee Community Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Severity Camp None/minimal Stressed Crisis Critical Catastrophic phase Camp 21 0% 75% 25% 0% 0% Phase 3 Camp 22 0% 86% 14% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 23 0% 93% 7% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 24 0% 85% 15% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 25 0% 95% 5% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 26 0% 87% 13% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 27 0% 74% 26% 0% 0% Phase 3 Camp NRC 0% 82% 18% 0% 0% Phase 2 Ukhia Host Community Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Severity None/minimal Stressed Crisis Critical Catastrophic phase Haldia Palong 0% 66% 34% 0% 0% Phase 3 Jalia Palong 0% 81% 19% 0% 0% Phase 2 Palong Khali 0% 88% 12% 5% 0% Phase 2 Raja Palong 0% 87% 13% 0% 0% Phase 2 Ratna Palong 0% 79% 21% 0% 0% Phase 3
Ukhia Refugee Community Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Severity Camp None/minimal Stressed Crisis Critical Catastrophic phase Camp 1E 0% 89% 11% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 1W 0% 87% 13% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 2E 0% 83% 17% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 2W 0% 90% 10% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 3 0% 85% 15% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 4 0% 85% 15% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 4 Ext. 0% 92% 8% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 5 0% 85% 15% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 6 0% 83% 17% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 7 0% 87% 13% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 8e 0% 87% 13% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 8w 0% 84% 16% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 9 0% 82% 18% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 10 0% 84% 16% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 11 0% 74% 26% 0% 0% Phase 3 Camp 12 0% 85% 15% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 13 0% 86% 15% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 14 0% 78% 22% 0% 0% Phase 3 Camp 15 0% 84% 16% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 16 0% 86% 14% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 17 0% 78% 22% 0% 0% Phase 3 Camp 18 0% 79% 21% 0% 0% Phase 3 Camp 19 0% 89% 11% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp 20 0% 79% 21% 0% 0% Phase 3 Camp 20ext 0% 88% 12% 0% 0% Phase 2 Camp KRC 0% 89% 11% 0% 0% Phase 2
Annex 2: Methodology About the WSC WSC Light implementation process The WSC is a new interagency global initiative led by the Global WASH Cluster, All relevant UNICEF, and IMPACT Initiatives. Developed at the global level through a data sources are participatory process, the WSC project aims to develop a standardized approach identified and to classifying the severity of WASH needs and vulnerabilities across contexts. processed with Since late 2019, the development of the WSC has focused on developing and support of key testing the core analytical tools that are used for its implementation. These tools WASH actors in include: country • The Analytical Framework: Conceptual basis that provides rationale for what data to include in the analysis and how to organise and structure data in the analysis process. • The Severity Scale: Description of five phases of WASH severity and the WSC global characteristics experienced in each. analyst team apply WSC • The Calculation Model: Computational method for combining different method to pieces of quantitative and qualitative data to assign households and areas WASH data in into different severity phases. accordance with • Analysis Protocols: Step-by-step guide detailing how the analysis process WSC protocols is to be conducted in workshop settings and how to handle specific issues encountered during the analysis. The implementation represented the first nationwide implementation of these tools in Bangladesh. The severity of Bangladesh Implementation WASH conditions The WSC Light implementation in Bangladesh took place between January are classified 2022 and February 2022. First, secondary data sources pertaining to different by consensus, areas of the WSC Analytical Framework were collated with the support of key including drivers WASH partners at country level. Once identified, the data was reviewed and and projections/ restructured before being processed for analysis. Data was collated from a range trends of sources, which have been listed in Annex 3. WSC global analysts analysed the data in accordance with the WSC Analysis Protocols at admin 3 or 4, comparing figures with Admin 1 and National levels, and triangulating between different sources where possible. Analysis results were then shared with the key country-level WASH partners for review Results are and further contextualisation before being finalised to produce the severity written up and classifications and projections provided in this report. disseminated with broader partner and donor community Acknowledgements The WSC global governance system is comprised of the following agencies and organisations: WASH Cluster Water Sanitation Hygiene
Annex 3: Main Data Sources Organization Source Description Year REACH REACH MSNA Multi-sector needs assessment 2021 REACH REACH MSNA Multi-sector needs assessment 2020 REACH REACH MSNA Multi-sector needs assessment 2019 World Bank World Bank’s Cox’s Bazar Assessment of economic/WASH/ 2021 Survey Panel Nutritional needs World Bank World Bank Overview of the economic situation 2021 in Bangladesh World Bank Crude Death rates Crude death rates in Bangladesh 2021 ACLED ACLED Security Incidents in Cox’s Bazar 2021 OCHA OCHA Population Estimates 2020 2021 UNHCR Population Fact Sheet Camp population count as of De- 2021 cember 2021 UNHCR UNHCR Press Releases following shocks 2021 UNHCR UNHCR Reports on Rohingya crisis 2021 UNICEF MICS Multi-indicator cluster survey 2019 UNICEF UNICEF Overview of Cox’s Bazar situation 2021 WHO WHO Vaccine information 2021 ABD Climate and Disaster Climate and Disaster Risk Atlas 2021 Risk Atlas Bangladesh Government Annual Rainfall Annual Rainfall by subdistrict 2021 IOM-WFP Joint Flood Impact As- Flood Impact Assessment of ex- 2022 sessment treme rainfall in Cox’s Bazar, July 2021 HCTT HCTT Nexus Strategy Humanitarian-Development 2021 (2021-2025) Collaboration for Climate-Related Disasters in Bangladesh HRW Human Rights Watch Reports of violence within camps 2021
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