Bangladesh: Rohingya refugees scramble for relief material in Ukhia

The Rohingya refugee crisis on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border has deepened with relief yet to reach the hands of those suffering.  Several camps in Ukhia, like the one near Kutupalong area, had hundreds of Rohingya refugees fighting amongst themselves only to grab a packet of relief material.

A 34-year-old Sumi is one of the victims of the double tragedy -- first struggling sneak out of Myanmar and now struggling for a relief packet in Bangladesh. Wiping her face with the extended end of her peach shaded hijaab, she expressed her misery with tears rolling down her eyes.

Sumi said, "I don't know why I am alive. I came to Bangladesh with four children and all four have still not eaten any thing. It is like no food for four days. Now, my three children are unwell because I could not manage food packets. I am yet to get any relief because even I am not physically strong. I cannot see their pain and suffering anymore."

All she could manage was from the leftovers after the relief carrying vehicle left the spot .

For Alum Bahar, clad in a yellow hijaab and grey burqa with a baby Umme Salma in her arms, it was even worst as she explained, "I have a baby in my lap, I could not go to get relief. I am just waiting. Only men and some strong children could manage to get relief. I cannot fight, so will stay hungry."

Some like Tazani even fought, but landed up with bruises.

Tazani, with a toddler in her arms, said, "My husband died in firing in Myanmar. I am alone here with kid. I cannot  get relief material because even I have bruises. Many have come here, but only a few manage to relief."

The government, political parties and NGO's have set up various centers,  but are still far from providing required relief.

Zakir Hussain, general secretary, Bangladesh Chatra League, who is setting up monitoring camps for relief supply in the areas, said, "There are volunteers of our party and student wing. We are standing by those who are in distress. Even, we have faced challenges in distributing relief material, weather has been very bad with heavy rainfall. Now, there is better system of distributing food and will get better soon. Our PM Sheikh Hasina has also said that if we can feed 16 crore people, we can feed 10 lakh more people by sharing and caring."

But, there is a lot that needs to be done. With people jumping on vehicles with relief materials and women fighting to get a bag of relief material -- the problems are still persisting.

A 22-year-old Rubia, who could not get relief material, said, "We are unable to catch any relief material. It is very difficult to fight with men or stronger people. We could not manage anything despite a fight."

But, if you thought it was all men who were taking away the relief material. Then you are wrong. Even, many of them could not manage to get relief material, even after a fight.

Nur Islam, a man who could not get relief material despite the struggle, said, "Had there been queues, we could have got relief material, but the process being followed is not normal. They throw relief materials from trucks and we don't get anything. Some have to hang onto the vehicles till they beat us with sticks, but because of no monitoring, we land up fighting with everyone and taking nothing with us."