Narinjara News, 14 March 2022

About 40 refugees, including 20 children under the age of five, were infected with chickenpox during Februaryat Taungmin Kala IDP camp in Kyauktawtownship of Rakhine State.

Daw Ma Aye Khin , incharge of children & women, said "I think it was caused by unhealthy water. Water in the poolis stagnant. Moreover, the housesinside the camp were covered with tarpaulins. The refugees faced wounds in their skins andexperienced itching. Even the camp in-chargealso faced the problem and claimed it to be chickenpox.”

Dr Than Tun Oo, the township’s recognised physician informed Narinjara News that the diseaseappeared not because of unclean water butthe season.

"We are working in the field to provide health care facilities to the citizens. Chickenpox becomes contagious in this season. It has appearedin other places too. If anyone gets infected, he or she can infect other people as well,” added thedoctor.

The Taungmin Kala  camp gives support to  527 people belongingto  95 families (includingKhami and Myo).
Across the Rakhine State, there are over 70,000 IDPs and many of them are living in unhealthy conditions. Regularuse of unclean water and verylimited nutritious foods for them has made most of the refugees unhealthy.