Hossen Sohel: Though Bangladesh has showed extraordinary generosity by opening its doors to Rohingyas, their fate remains very uncertain even after one year of their shelter at makeshift camps in Bangladesh, said Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders.
It said the donors and governments with influence over the government of Myanmar have failed to show the necessary leadership by not pressuring it to end persecution against the Rohingya, which is the cause of their displacement, reports UNB.
Besides, the UN-led humanitarian response in Bangladesh is, to date, only 31.7 percent funded.
Host states in the region deny them any formal legal status, despite the fact that they are refugees and have been made stateless by Myanmar, MSF said.
In the 12 months since, MSF has provided over 656,200 consultations, equivalent to more than two-thirds of Rohingya refugees, in 19 health facilities or mobile clinics.
At first, more than half of MSF’s patients were treated for violence-related injuries, but other health concerns soon emerged that were linked to the overcrowded and unhygienic conditions in the camps.
“It’s unacceptable that watery diarrhoea remains one of the biggest health issues we see in the camps,” says Pavlo Kolovos, MSF head of mission in Bangladesh.
The infrastructure to meet even the most basic needs of the population is still not in place, and that seriously affects people’s wellbeing, according to MSF.
Healthcare funding stands at a mere 16.9%, leaving significant gaps in the provision of vital medical services.
The Rohingya have long been excluded from healthcare in Myanmar, meaning they have very low immunisation coverage. Preventative health measures are therefore crucial.
Vaccination campaigns, supported by MSF, have been instrumental in preventing outbreaks of cholera and measles, and in containing the spread of diphtheria.