Elephant and diarrhea kill four refugee children

Kaladan Press

Ukhiya, Cox's Bazaar: Two refugee children were killed by a wild elephant and two other children died of diarrhea on July 1. They have been living under the open sky near the Kutupalong official camp, said Hossain from Kutupalong.

Refugees are living in huts without strong roofing, so during heavy rain or strong winds the roofs get blown off or tear. Refugees including boys and girls are catching cold and becoming afflicted by malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, odema among other diseases.

The two children who died of diarrhea were identified as Fatema Khatun (8), daughter of Nazir Ahamed and Shaffi Ullah (12), son of Makbul Ahamed. Two killed by a wild elephant have been identified as Khairul Alam (7), and Mohammed Siddik (15).

A group of wild elephants near the mountains entered the camp at midnight. One of the elephants entered a hut. Family members including the father and mother ran way leaving behind two sons who were sleeping in the hut. The elephant killed the two boys, according to parents of Fatema Khatun.

Meanwhile, the parents of the boys were screaming and shouting for helps from other unofficial refugees. Hearing the hue and cry, other refugees rushed to the spot and drove away the elephants.

After the elephants were driven away, the refugees found the two boys had been killed, said a relative of Nazir Ahmed.

Last year, an elephant killed refugees in the official refugee camp.

The refugees are staring starvation in the face and living under the open sky near the Kutupalong official camp for nearly one week. They are unofficial refugees who are living near Kutupalong refugee camp after being relocated from local areas when Bangladesh authorities were finalizing the voters list which excluded Burmese nationals.