MSF URGES UNHINDERED AID AND PROTECTION FOR ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is urging Bangladeshi authorities to ensure unhindered and immediate access to humanitarian assistance, care, and protection for all Rohingya refugees.

According to MSF, Rohingya refugees have been arriving in Bangladesh since the beginning of the year after escaping escalating violence in Myanmar, and they now face immense challenges, including overcrowding, lack of access to essential services, and deteriorating mental health conditions.

"Thousands of Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh in recent months, while others have been pushed back or detained while trying to flee Myanmar.

"Those who managed to get to Bangladesh have described their horrific journeys to our teams, which often include witnessing loved ones dying in front of them, having to sell their remaining possessions or being forced to incur significant debts to cover the risky journey.

"Others told us how they desperately tried to cross the border to find safety – a feat that sometimes took them several days," said MSF in a statement on Tuesday.

MSF stated that access to food is an issue in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

It said people already living in the camps say that they are sharing their food rations and space with newly arrived family members, who don't have access to services like shelter, water, sanitation and protection from abuse, exploitation, and neglect, especially of girls, boys, and women.

Since July, MSF has seen an increase in the number of children under five with moderate and severe malnutrition.

This is especially an issue for new refugees, as access to food and healthcare in Myanmar has been almost non-existent, it said.

 The persistent under-resourcing of the humanitarian response has also severely hampered the availability of essential services, making it difficult for newly arriving Rohingya refugees to get all the humanitarian services.

While efforts to make registration accessible for Rohingya refugees are critical, delays in this process should not be an impediment to providing immediate attention, said MSF.

"Our teams are treating the newly displaced Rohingya in the camps, including critically ill patients and (those) war-wounded with mortar shell injuries and gunshot wounds.

"People have shared with us that they are afraid to seek assistance as this might put them at risk of being exploited or even returned to Myanmar,” said Orla Murphy, the MSF country representative in Bangladesh.

“Our mental health teams, in particular, see how people are grappling with the violence they witnessed back home and how the lack of access to available humanitarian services has created an uncertainty that is further exacerbating their trauma.

“We are seeing newly arrived Rohingya patients showing symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression," added Murphy.

While Bangladeshi authorities have recently committed to addressing the most urgent needs of the Rohingya refugees in the camps, more must be done immediately so that all people arriving in the country can access essential services such as food, water, shelter, healthcare, education and protection.

-- BERNAMA