On 25th August 2017, a deadly assault by Rohingya insurgents on multiple police posts in Northern Rakhine (Myanmar) triggered a new wave of violence, prompting an estimated 671,350 civilians to flee across the border into Bangladesh. These refugees joined approximately 247,213 Rohingya who was living there as a result of previous episodes of violence giving an estimated total of 918,563 Rohingya refugees in the Cox’s Bazar area.

 

On the 18th February 2018, Dr Thomas (volunteer for MERCY Humanitarian UK) left London to work with MERCY Malaysia providing primary health care to the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Almost 5 months later he left with an incredible insight into the plight of this population, which is 2015 was described by the UN as the most persecuted in the world.

 

MERCY Malaysia was already operating in the area at the time of the influx providing relief items to the flooded communities following a heavy monsoon in Cox’s Bazar, so resources could quickly be diverted to the direction of the refugees. Initially, healthcare from MERCY Malaysia was provided at a simple roadside table to attend to the masses. Two formal primary health clinics were opened on the 1st October 2017 and patients were treated every day except Fridays. Well over 100 patients were treated at each clinic every day and sometimes the number ran up to 200+. Between the 1st October 2017 and the 1st July 2018, MERCY Malaysia treated 54,441 patients.

 

Dr Thomas who volunteer for MERCY Humanitarian UK (MHUK), said his time in Cox’s Bazar has been a humbling experience and I was able to see and manage many interesting medical cases. I am grateful to MHUK for giving me the opportunity to work with them and have chosen to run the London Marathon in support of them.

 

Additionally, with all the donation received and with the support of local NGO COAST, MERCY Malaysia launched a Maternal and Child Health Care (MCHC) centre at the Balukhali camp No 9 in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya. For more information please click here.