Malaysia focuses on humanitarian aspect of Rohingya crisis

Reported by Nurul Islam Hasib from Ukhia, Tekhnaf  bdnews24.com

 

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has sent a special delegation with relief materials to

Cox’s Bazar as he focused on humanitarian aspects of the Rohingya crisis.

“Our Prime Minister is very much concerned about the whole humanitarian issue that those Rohingya [people] facing here,” Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor said.

“He [PM] sent us this morning that shows how he cares about the humanitarian aspect of the plight of Rohingya. We are proud of this,” said Noor who is leading the delegation along with an acclaimed Malaysia-born Hollywood actress Michelle Yeoh.

Along with Yeoh, also a UNDP goodwill ambassador, the General visited the Kutupalang Rohingya camp and Malaysia Field Hospital in Ukhia on Saturday to evaluate the impact of the aid to date.

According to the Malaysian prime minister’s office, the visit is also to ensure that the Malaysian Hospital is equipped with adequate resources to tackle the conditions faced by Rohingya refugees.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh since Aug 25, following an army crackdown triggered by attacks by Rohingya insurgents in Buddhist-majority Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine State.

Meanwhile, preparation is in progress to start the repatriation process as the two countries signed deals despite international criticism.

Malaysia was the first country to establish a fully functional and complete Field Hospital in Ukhia, with a maximum capacity of 100 beds and staffed by trained medical personnel.

 

So far, 3,768 patients have received treatment from that hospital beginning on Dec 1.

The team leader of the hospital, Dr Fatahul Laham Mohamed, said at least 140 people were operated upon for different types of issues from hernia problem to fall from the hillside.

“We also performed 14 caesarian sections,” he told bdnews24.com. Four more mothers also gave birth through normal vaginal delivery.

Md Amin, a 22-year-old Rohingya boy, admitted her mother for her lung infection.

“She has long been suffering from lung problems and blood pressure. But I could not see her a doctor in Rakhine. Now her condition deteriorated,” he told bdnews24.com while waiting beside the bedside as her mother was on the ventilator.

The Hospital is also serving the local Bangladeshis. Anwara Begum, living within a kilometre of the hospital, came with her three years old son who has been suffering from a skin condition for long.

“I have been at our [Bangladesh’s] Ukhia Hospital, but he did not get cured. Later, one advised me to come here,” she told bdnews24.com.

The Malaysian delegation brought relief items such as medical equipment, medicine, food and other basic necessities in response to the escalating need for medical care and basic needs among refugees.

“The context of the visit is to see the plight of the people and how Malaysian armed forces can help further in this regard,” the General told the reporters.

He said his government is concerned about the humanitarian aspect.

The actress described the situation Rohingyas faced ‘desperate’ and said they have no homes and they have no ways to go back to.

“Would anybody want to live in that situation – no. They must have been so desperate to leave to what was there home before,” she said, speaking to reporters.

“It is time for action and I urge all countries to immediately look at channelling desperately needed aid especially to the children, women and elderly who are clinging to only hope and not much more for survival,” she was later quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Malaysian prime minister’s office.

The delegation left Bangladesh Saturday night after completing the visit.