23 October 2018|13 Safar 1440
Cii Projects Update: Humanitarian trip to Bangladesh with Hafez Yousuf Manack, Brother Atiqur Rahmaan, Brother Ikhlaaq Muhamed and Brother Haytham
22 October 2018
This morning we set out early for day 2 of our mission, we planned to go to the Kutupalong and Jadimora refugee camps. Here is may diary entry of my experiences today.
KUTUPALONG CAMP
Yesterday was mentally and physically exhausting yet we set out for the camps today expecting to see more devastation thus making a sincere intention to assist as much as possible.
As we entered the biggest refugee camp in Bangladesh, the Kutupalong refugee camps, I was eagerly greeted by a bunch of enthusiastic children. They were between 9-11 years old and many pass their time in the shelters doing physical labour. They assist in re-building the camps and pumping water.I was concerned about their well being and was told there is limited access to education facilities so they pass their days doing manual labour.
Our journey to the camp continued as we visited the primary health care facility for the refugees. We were met with snaking queues an a small dwelling that served as the medical treatment centre. The facility only has one male and one female doctor, they see more than 80 patients a day, many of whom are in dire need of medical attention. The facilities are very basic, after seeing the doctor, the patients are given medication from the pharmacy and sent home. The majority of patients require hospitalisation which they cannot afford. Patients are also not permitted to leave the camps, for the hospitals, due to their refugee status.
I was given the opportunity to speak to Dr Ashfaaq at the medical facility, he said the following:
“These refugees need skin specialists and they also need more doctors who are specialised to assist them, also more medication is needed in this primary health care facility”
“I try my best everyday to help as many people as possible but if more doctors could come and assist many more people will get treated faster”
Seeing so many patients desperately seeking medical attention, many sitting down and lying on the ground as they wait their turn, brought tears to my eyes. Their pain and discomfort is evident.
Our second last stop at the Kutupolong camp was a visit to a school. In the midst of the dire circumstances seeing a few kids getting a basic education brought me a glimmer of hope. I just wish education facilities were more easily accessible and as mentioned the facilities are very basic.
Our final stop was to a soup kitchen at the camp where over a 1000 refugees are fed everyday. The food prepared today was rice, chicken curry and eggs, everything was packaged and ready for distribution.
JADIMORA CAMP
At the Jadimora camp we prepared our own distribution on behalf of all the generous sponsors of *Cii Projects*
We made 400 hampers which weighed 40kgs each. Each hamper consisted of 14 kg rice, 6kg flour, 4kg lentils, 4kg potato, 4kg Onion, 0.75 kg garlic, 0.75kg ginger, 0.3 kg mixed spice, 1kg sugar, 2kg salt, 4litres of oil and 4 bars of soap. Thank you for allowing us to hand these out to the most needy.
For the distribution there was a system in place where each household was given a signed ticket. The hamper entitled each family to a hamper, so that distribution was more controlled. Our distribution seemed to be going well until we reached the end that is when all hell broke loose. Refugees who didn’t have tickets tried to secure their own hampers but we had to honour the system in place.
The growing crowd grew agitated and threatened to attack us and forcefully take away the hampers we had prepared. This was done out of sheer hunger and desperation but as our safety was being compromised the Bangladesh army was called in to control the situation. After the army had arrived things were calmer and more controlled. My heart was broken because of all those we had to turn away, I noticed the hope and desperation in their eyes and all I could do was turn my head down and walk away feeling helpless.
My journey home today was distressing and heart wrenching, I cannot stop replaying the scenes of disappointment on those we failed to assist today. These images will stay with me for a long time to come. The current situation in the Rohingya refugee camps are not getting any better. As the days pass the situation is deteriorating rapidly, every single moment I spend in the camps and observe all the poverty and distribution, I make shukr to Allah (SWT) for all that we have been blessed with.
Please assist us in helping to feed more refugees tomorrow.
To Donate generously towards the families survival supplies.
BANKING DETAILS
Bank: FNB
Account holder: Cii Projects
Acc no: 625 011 580 77
Branch Code: 250 655
Ref: ROH zakaat/lillah
Cii Projects – together we make the difference
