Teknaf, Bangladesh:  Diarrhea has broken out in Kutupalong makeshift refugee camp over the last four days and about 30 patients are being treated at the Medicines Sense Frontiers (MSF-Holland) clinic in the camp, a refugee close to MSF staff said.

Camp residents of all ages are at risk from diarrhea because of the unhygienic condition of latrines and poor drainage, said a refugee leader from the camp with some knowledge of health care.  

About 15 to 20 outpatients are treated daily at the MSF clinic, and about 80 refugees including children have been affected by diarrhea in the camp.

Hunger for Action (ACF) workers were trying to clean the unhygienic conditions in the camp, but, are not doing so at present.  As a result, the health risks associated with the problem is becoming worse each day.

Some refugees said that government are not allowing ACF to clean up the camp, but some say that it has received permission, but is not taking action.

Previously, ACF workers  channeled faeces and urine of refugees behind the latrines in drilled wells. But at present, there are no wells, so all of it is overflowing the drains and the bad smell is spreading in the camp. Flies also carry germs through the camp, said another refugee leader.

So far, there is no information about deaths in the camp by diarrhea. But, camp residents fear refugees will die if this situation continues.

One of the refugee leaders said they want to bring the matter to the attention of the appropriate authorities and have action taken against the unhygienic conditions immediately.

The camp has over 40,000 unregistered refugees, who fled from Burma because of political discrimination and unbearable harassment by the military regime. They do not get any support from any refugee agency and survive by working outside the camp. Sometimes, they are harassed by local villagers or robbed while they are on the way home from their jobs.