KALADAN NEWS

Diarrhea killed 3 in Teknaf Makeshift Camp, and many fighting for Life

Teknaf, May 6: Diarrhea claimed 3 lives and attack at least 50 in Teknaf makeshift camp of Burmese Rohingya refugee (unofficial refugee camp), sources from Teknaf said yesterday. 

On 4^th May 2004, three Rohingya refugee children namely Hossain Ahmad, 7, son of Kala Mia, Deen Mohammad, 5, and other one in the makeshift camp of Teknaf died of diarrhea in one day and many other children and old people have been suffering with such disease. They are fighting for their lives, as there is no action from any quarters, sources further added.

From the beginning of May 2004, suddenly temperature rose up so high that the poor Rohingya refugees could not maintain hygienic and sanitary in their camp. Since they do not have enough fresh drinking water from tube wells, which were donated by some local NGOs for a few months back on humanitarian ground, a refugee named Jalal said.

Since last 2 months, the Rohingya refugees are not getting enough fresh drinking water from the above said tube wells, the refugees have to fetch fresh water from nearby local ponds, which are not healthy. For this reason, diarrhea unexpectedly broke out in the camp, he further added.

It may be mentioned here that on March 24, 2004 a fire broke out in the refugee camps and then local government officials imposed restriction of movement of refugees of the camp for their security. Due to restriction, no NGO workers are being allowed to enter inside the camp and also refugees are not allowed to go out of their camp to do their daily jobs for supporting their families. So, they have to spend most of their time in their dirty and slim makeshift huts with no help from any neighborhood.

When ask a refugee, he said, “ there are a MSF and Concern NGOs’ clinics in official refugee camps but we have none. So, we have no alternative ways expect dying without any treatment and no oral and intravenous saline in our camp. Now, we urgently need saline for the current situation to prevent diarrhea attacks.

While Kaladan Press reporter met with refugees, regarding to diarrhea, they said, “ You (reporter) always take reports of us (refugees) but no impact have been seen so far. So, you are requested to send our message to the UN, NGOs, International Human Rights Organizations, individuals and other International Communities, who sympathize to our cause.” # #

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