Children Die of Starvation at Unregistered Refugee Camps in Bangladesh

Cox’sbazar : Nearly 50 children have died of starvation in the last two months at unregistered refugee camps located outside of the official Kutupalong Burmese Muslim refugee camps in Bangladesh, said a refugee on the condition of anonymity.

The refugee said, "We have been facing hunger in the camp since January this year because of a shortage of food supply. During this period, about 50 children have died of starvation." However, there have been no official reports about the deaths.

"We already informed the concerned authorities of Bangladesh about our refugees' situation, but there has been no action. Most families outside the camp are unable to eat twice a day," he said.

Outside the refugee camp there are over 8,000 Rohingya families living in temporary huts. Among them, an estimated 1,000 families are able to eat at least one meal daily, while the remaining do not have enough food to eat on a daily basis.

"Some families could have lunch but some families can no. Some families can take dinner but some fail. Most families are unable to take food daily in the camp," he said.

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are now prohibited by Bangladesh authorities from working outside the camps. The refugees have also been prohibited from traveling to the markets to buy food.

"We have no right to go outside for a job. If we go, the authority arrests us and pushes us back to Burma. So we are now staying inside the camp without any jobs or income," the source said.

Even though many families are facing hunger in the camps, there are no non-governmental organizations providing food to the refugees.

Another refugee said, "MSF is working for refugees outside the camp, but only for medical purposes. We received medicine and soap from MSF, not food or other items. Indeed, we need food now more than other materials."

The situation of unregistered refugees in the unofficial camps outside Kutupalong is deteriorating due to the lack of adequate food. Many families continue to face hunger and starvation but there remains no help from the outside world.

The refugee said, "The situation of refugees outside the official camp will become worse in the future if there is no intervention by the Bangladesh government and international communities. We have no opportunity to get food from NGOs, and we have no right to work outside. How can we survive without food or jobs here?"

Source :http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=2505