Sunday | 12 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
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Sunday | 12 January 2025 | Epaper

Rohingyas face dearth of safe drinking water

Published : Tuesday, 17 October, 2017 at 12:00 AM  Count : 323
Farhad Iqbal
COX'S BAZAR, Oct 16: The Rohingyas got shelter in the newly built 12 camps here, but they are facing many problems including scarcity of pure drinking water. As a result, the Rohingyas are getting infected with many diseases.
Sources said, with an excuse of attack on police outposts in Myanmar by a separatist organisation on August 24 last, the Myanmar forces started operation which forced lakhs of Rohingyas to take refuge in Cox's Bazar of Bangladesh. To save selves from the persecution of Myanmar forces, the Rohingyas entered Bangladesh through different border points; the Rohingya influx is still continuing.
On their way to Bangladesh, many Rohingyas were killed. In the last one month, many Rohingya slums have been formed in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas of the district where they are facing many problems including drinking water crisis.
The Rohingyas who took shelter at Hoaikong Roikkhong slum are using the water of the Roikkhong Canal for different purposes. Besides, they are urinating and excreting randomly which is giving rise to different diseases among them.
Rohingya woman Fatema Khatun, 45, of Kumirkhali in Myanmar, who took shelter at the slum said, "There is unavailability of pure drinking water. We are drinking water of the canal. As a result, my three children have been affected with diarrhoea."
Another Nur Mohammad, 55, of Sheelkhali area said, "Water in big drums is brought here but that is insufficient for the Rohingyas here."
The people living around the slum said, the areas are becoming affected with different diseases as the Rohingyas are urinating and excreting randomly.
A resident of Unchhiprang Muhammad Taher Noyeem said, "Besides Rohingyas, the local people are also getting infected with different diseases. If steps are not taken immediately, the diseases will spread in epidemic form in the district."
Meanwhile, the Rohingyas said that the healthcare facilities for them are insufficient though some NGOs are providing the same in the areas.
Local Union Parishad Member Abdul Baset said, it is urgently necessary to ensure sanitation and safe drinking water at remote Putibunia area.
Coordinator of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Monjur Kadir Ahmed confirmed the spread of different diseases among the Rohingyas and said, "A temporary medical camp was set up at Roikkhong. We will remain beside the Rohingyas."
Executive Director of BRAC Dr Mohammad Musa said, if steps are not taken immediately, the entire region might be affected.





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