688.000 Rohingya crossed from Myanmar to Bangladesh ending up in cox’s Bazar camps. In a very short time since 25th of August, migrants joined other 212.500 refugee from previous waves escaping violence on Muslims making it one of the current largest exodus. These violences were denounced as ethnic cleansing by the International community.
The government of Bangladesh made considerable effort to provide food, prevent spread of diseases and control outbreak of measles and diphtheria. However, the current infrastructure is unable to support the population’s need and the situation gets worse every day. Nearly 1.3 million people with 60% of children are living in overcrowded camps without efficient food, water and medicine supply.
Doctor Without Borders’ Emergency Coordinator testified it is a very complex crisis combining several factors at the same time such as trauma response, illness and diseases, famine and religious persecution. The United Nation Secretary General, Antonio Guterres called the situation as “human-rights nightmare” and the World Food Programme Emergency Coordinator warns it may become “one of the largest refugee response in recent memory”.
International Organisations stress the need to accelerate the efforts and called for help. The upcoming rainy season will highly increase the vulnerability of the population and waterborne disease such as diarrhea, hepatitis or malaria. The UNHCR already plans to step up preparation to protect refugees including their relocation in other areas risking floods and landslides.
It is critical to ensure protection and safety to these people that have fled from terrible violent conditions in their country. It is now time to make sure they decent treatment and proper living conditions.
For more information please read:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/02/1003122
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41291650
http://time.com/5031342/bangladesh-myanmar-rohingya-refugee-crisis/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/chaos-rohingya-camps-bangladesh-170918034033137.html
