Raped, torched and traumatised, the Rohingya minority fleeing Myanmar to Bangladesh are in dire need of basic necessities like food, water, shelter and medical assistance. As the number of refugees continues to rise -- now it stands at over 600,000 -- relief agencies have been working around the clock to mitigate one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory.
At Cox's Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh, the UNHCR Thailand is one of the aid agencies offering relief. Two Thai staff members, protection officer Nanthawan Assawamanakul and field officer Jatuporn Cheewasrirungruang, share with us their experiences on the ground.
Among the first people the Rohingya refugees meet at the reception area in Sabrang, close to one of the entry ports for refugees in south of Bangladesh, is Nanthawan, who has been working in the camps since September.
Jatuporn Cheewasrirungruang, UNHCR field officer, takes time out from her work to cradle a Rohingya baby. Photos © UNHCR
Among her numerous responsibilities is overseeing and undertaking refugee eligibility and status determination ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
Nanthawan describes a grim picture when asked how the Rohingya were coping with life in the camps.
"There is still an acute shortage of shelter, food and water for them, so the situation in the camps is in dire straits despite relief efforts exhausting their resources.
"They are physically and emotionally exhausted when they arrive, often having walked on foot for days. The ones that come on boats barely make it alive. Some have taken the long arduous journey both on foot and on bamboo rafts. It is pretty much a miracle that they make it alive," remarked Nanthawan, who has also worked in Rwanda, Nepal and Iraq.
Nanthawan visits Rohingya refugees to ensure they have access to life-saving support such as shelter and core relief items like food, water and health services. UNHCR THAILAND
"We do our best to co-ordinate our efforts to assist them in the best manner possible. At the reception area, we also distribute relief items to them. We also address medical issues and provide them with food and water. Afterwards we send them to a temporary rest area before they are relocated to the camps where they are offered more services."
Nanthawan said new arrivals continue to be women and children, the elderly accompanied by young children, the physically challenged and trauma victims.
This week Bangladesh has launched talks with Myanmar aimed at a deal to repatriate Rohingya refugees. But the high number of refugees and the tension in Rakhine, Myanmar, means the plight of what the UN called "the most persecuted minority" in the world won't end soon.
Scenes of mothers with newborn babies with acute malnutrition have become a common sight. Minors accompanied by adults who are not their parents also continues to rise.
Jatuporn helps new arrivals resettle in their new environment. UNHCR THAILAND
One of the most touching cases she experienced was that of a 70-year-old mother and her 30-year-old daughter, who had a psychiatric disorder.
"At first I was baffled why this old lady had tied a rope between her daughter and herself. The daughter looked perfectly normal from the outside, so when I heard the reason why the old lady had tied the rope, I had great admiration for her.
"She told me that due to her psychiatric problems, the daughter used to wander out on her own, so the worried mother felt the best way to keep an eye on her was to use the rope. As she was alone, it was only natural for her as a mother to keep her daughter safe in the camp by doing this."
As most of the refugee population arrives in Bangladesh with health issues, medical aid remains a pressing need, Nanthawan said. There is already limited access to basic health services in Myanmar, she said, so most of them are in bad physical shape when they decide to flee. To make matters worse, she said, there is a lack of medical staff to attend to everyone.
Rafia, a Rohingya refugee mother, plays with her son inside a shelter at the Jamtoli refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Photo: Reuters
"During their journey they don't have clean water to drink, so they drink from any source they can find, this only exacerbates their already poor health condition when they reach Bangladesh. Diarrhoea is one of common medical conditions they have. We are doing our best to address this need to the best of our ability," said Nanthawan.
"There are also a number of pregnant women who deliver frail babies who have a slim chance of surviving if they are not attended to immediately. Nutrition is also a huge problem as there is not much food to go around."
How to donate to UNHCR for Rohingya Emergency Relief
Bank Transfer:
Bank Account Name: UNHCR Special Account
- K Bank: 030-2-88804-3
- SCB: 004-225859-6
- Bangkok Bank: 201-055599-9
SMS number: 4642789
- For example, type 30 if you wish to donate 30 baht
Meanwhile Jatuporn, who previously worked with ethnic groups in Mae Sot, found the basic life-saving support they offered refugees in the form of shelters meant the world to them. Having not had a proper roof over their heads for weeks, they often have tears in their eyes when they are able to rest at the transit centre, a bamboo tent with a thatched roof, before they are resettled in the camp.
Jatuporn said this encounter was a poignant reminder of how core relief items and health services are highly appreciated by the Rohingya refugees, one of the fastest-growing in the world.
"Despite having gone through a host of atrocities, I found them to have a fierce determination to survive, which is commendable given the state of their physical and emotional health," said Jatuporn.
"They are not only refugees but also stateless. Despite this they have a head on their shoulders. Since I arrived in September, my interactions with camp residents have made me better acquainted with their culture and traditions. They often share with me their desire to return home one day. Many women who have lost their husbands and sons feel compelled to embark on this treacherous journey to reach Bangladesh because of their children. They desire to see them safe and have a future."
Jatuporn also found them to be highly resourceful. They are able to build a bamboo hut with very basic tools. They are also good at farming, so have taken it on themselves to grow their own vegetables.
"Due to their huge numbers, and the fact that they continue to arrive on foot and boats, core relief items like food, water, shelter and medical services need to be replenished often. And that has become a worry for most humanitarian agencies here as we are not able to do that fast enough to reach everyone."
