KUALA LUMPUR: The Rohingya community in Malaysia is lauding the government’s decision to build a RM3.5 million field hospital at the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh.
Construction of the field hospital, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Monday, is a godsend to countless ill and wounded Rohingya refugees desperate for treatment.
One Rohingya refugee, Faridullah Dudumiya, who escaped Myanmar 27 years ago and settled in Malaysia thanked the government over the move.
“Building a hospital with complete and advanced equipment is great for those who are desperate at the refugee camp.
“But the question is: what is the long-term solution for the Rohingya in Bangladesh? Are they going to continue living in the camp? Until when are they going to continue living with aid by others?
“Maybe the Malaysian government could come up with a long-term solution for those in the camps,” said the 49-year-old.
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation Malaysia (MERHROM) president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani said he is glad that Zahid visited the refugee camps to witness the Rohingya’s ordeal for himself.
“I am glad that the Malaysian government (is going the distance) in helping Rohingya refugees.
“Other than the hospital, we still need continuous help in providing food, medicine, clothes, clean water supply and hopefully, we can build restrooms as we are lacking that at the refugees camp.
“Due to the lack of restrooms, there are hygiene and health issues, and the refugees easily fall sick,” Zafar said.
Meanwhile, Rohingya Society in Malaysia (RSM) Kedah chairman Mohd Noor Abu Bakar, 48, predicts that the hospital will help in ensuring that Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh.
“I believe our government knows the best way to help the Rohingya refugees, and I hope that the construction of the hospital will not be delayed.
“While the move is commendable, we also must think of what can be done now, and I think we should be sending more doctors to every camp in Cox’s Bazar,” he told the New Straits Times.
Mohd Noor concluded that if the Rohingya’s problems with the Myanmar government and military are not solved soon, then building a hospital seems like the best short-term solution.
While in Cox’s Bazar, Zahid said the proposed hospital will have 50 beds, and that the Health Ministry will assist with providing specialist doctors, nurses and medical assistants who will be posted there.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the hospital will have 35 medical staff members.