Diarrhea Outbreak in Rohingya Refugee Camp, Pauktaw

An outbreak of diarrhea has claimed the lives of seven people, including six children under the age of five, in the West Rohingya Refugee Camp in Pauktaw Township, Arakan State, Myanmar. According to camp officials, four children passed away on September 4, two more children on September 8, and an elderly woman on September 17.

The diarrhea outbreak reportedly began on September 3, primarily affecting children in the camp. “Living in a refugee camp is difficult due to the heat, and there is also a shortage of water. It started with the children, but now even the adults are affected,” explained a camp official.

Over 250 people in the camp are currently suffering from diarrhea, and access to proper medical treatment is scarce. While Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) previously provided healthcare services to the Rohingya refugees, they are now facing limitations. MSF’s volunteers are struggling with shortages of medicine and medical supplies, although they are still offering educational support and instructing families on how to care for those affected by diarrhea, including rehydration techniques.

The West Rohingya Refugee Camp houses a population of 5,798 people, including 2,391 men and 3,407 women across 1,197 households. There are growing concerns that the death toll may rise as the outbreak continues to spread.

Earlier this year, in April, a similar diarrhea outbreak in refugee camps in Sittwe Township resulted in nearly 80 deaths among Rohingya refugees.

Rohingya Vision News