Water shortage brings diarrhea among Kyauktaw IDP camp’s infants

By Myo Thiri Kyaw 18 Feb 2020

Myo Thiri Kyaw | DMG
18 February, Kyauktaw
 
At least 11 infants are suffering from diarrhea at the Taung Min Kala IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, due to a scarcity of water and resultant sanitation woes, according to camp inhabitants.
 
The camp has been facing a water shortage since early February and refugees do not have enough water for basic sanitary needs, an IDP woman said.

The diarrhea outbreak among the infants, all under 1 year of age, began a week ago. Two children in serious condition have been provided medical treatment at the Kansauk village clinic, IDPs said, adding that some of the other infants were not initially provided treatment as their parents could not afford the medical expenditure.

“Today, doctors visited the camp and they were given medical treatment,” an IDP said on Tuesday.

More than 500 people are sheltering at the Taung Min Kala IDP camp and they had relied upon water from a nearby lake for their daily needs. However, the lake began to dry up early this month and it is estimated to have shrunk to about one-fifth its normal size.

The water that remains is turbid and ill-suited for camp inhabitants’ drinking and hygiene needs, with the nearest alternative source of water being a distance of about two miles on foot.