NarinjaraNews, September 19/2024

Diarrhea has claimed the lives of seven people, including sixchildren, at the Ah Nauk Ye Muslim internally displaced people (IDP) camp inPauktaw Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State.

Camp officials reported that the fatalities occurred instages: four children died on September 4, two children on September 8, and anadult woman on September 17. The outbreak initially affected children, with thefirst cases emerging on September 3.

“Living conditions in the IDP camp, characterized by hightemperatures and poor water quality, are problematic,” said a camp official. “Diarrheabegan with the children and is now spreading to adults,” he added.

Currently, more than 250 individuals in the camp are sufferingfrom diarrhea, facing difficulties in accessing adequate medical care. WhileMédecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders,previously provided health services, the organization is currently unable tooffer comprehensive care.

“An MSF team is providing health care, but it’s currentlyinconvenient for them to deliver medical care directly. Their on-the-groundvolunteers also face problems with a shortage of medicine. Despite thesechallenges, they are offering education on disease management and proper wateruse,” the official explained.

Residents are deeply concerned about the potential for furthercasualties due to the outbreak.

The Ah Nauk Ye Rohingya Muslim IDP camp houses 2,391 males and 3,407females, totaling 5,798 displaced persons spread across 1,197 households.

In April, a similar diarrhea outbreak in Sittwe Township campsresulted in approximately 80 deaths among Muslim IDPs. (File photo)