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Beleaguered Rohingyas live in utter misery

From Our Correspondent
MARICCHYA (Cox's Bazar). Jan 19 : The hill was bare. Hie green canopy which once provided minimum shelter to the animals was gone. Now. the rugged terrain, about 20 kilometers south of Cox's Bazar Town, is a refuge to some 5.000 Rohingya Muslims, who fled their real homes in Myanmar due to atrocities by its troops.
A handful of thatched houses were too inadequate, warm clothes were scarce, drinking water had to be fetched from a far away tubewell and sanitation was poor. Many of the distraught people, who were forced to desert their homesteads In Myanmar, lived on a single meal a day. Even the naked children for-
got their usual fun and play and remained mute.
However, a few workers of some voluntary organisations were trying to help the refugees with meagre supply of food and medicines. Naju Mia. who crossed Bangladesh border with his wife, three sons and two daughters, did not know what to do. A 37-year-old Mia was a small trader in Busidong. Telling a harrowing’ tale of repression In his homeland. he said the Myanmar troops took over his small home and forced his family out at gunpoint
They took my house, money, a little stock of rice and cattlehead. My neighbours also lost everything." he said.
Noor Ahmed (20) of
Keprudong village in Busidong. Myanmar, said the troops arrested his father Kashem All 15 days back and he was still missing. They surrounded our home and told us to get out.' Ahmed said, adding that 10 cows owned by his father were lost too.
Vice President of the Rohingya Samaj Kalyan Samity Sirajul Islam, who was present informed that people from nearly 14.200 homesteads were evicted from several villages in Busidong alone and almost all of them entered Bangladesh after December 21.
Their homes were demolished he said and new settlements sprang up with people chosen by the Myanmar authorities. "Even all the mosques and other religious places were turned into temporary military stations.” Islam said
But life here was no better. Fatema Khatun was cooking rice. In her 50s. Fatema crossed the Naaf Channel In dark in return for Taka 100. leaving behind all the members of her family.
'Son. it Is very cold In the night. You Just can't burn everything for heat.” said the lady clad in a cotton thami - a lungl and blouse commonly worn by the Myanmar ladies.
An 18-year-old Rafiq, son of Abul Kalam. said he lived on batter for days and starved the previous night. "The neighbours could not help much." he said.
Dr Slddlque Ahmed of Ganashasthya Kendro. who arrived here with a little supply of rice, flattened rice (chira) and medicine, said about 60 people, mainly children, were affected with stomach ailments. mainly dysentery. Besides, there were cases of fever and cold, he said. "You can well imagine the health condition here from its sanitation." Dr Ahmed added.
According to an unofficial count, over 60,000 Rohingya refugees have crossed over to Bangladesh since December 21. The official tally was ai moderate 30.000 while fresh influx continued.
Officials of Cox’s Bazar district also confirmed fresh arrival of the refugees. However, they could not specify any figure.
The local administration had already begun a headcount in the first week of the month to enlist them for repatriation.
On Friday, some tents were erected at Dachua Palang while the government sanctioned taka four lakh and 400 tons of rice and wheat as relief to the refugee.
Officials said a medical learn was also working among the refugees in addition to medical help provided by some voluntary organisations. However, they said that help was totally Inadequate.