Malaysia to build field hospital at Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh

Dr Ahmad Zahid visiting the Kutupalong Refugee Camp at Cox's Bazar on Monday.

COX'S BAZAR: Malaysia will build a RM3.5mil field hospital at the refugee camp for ethnic Rohingya here, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the medical corp of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) will build the hospital which will initially be able to have 50 beds and take in 50 patients.

"We have obtained the permission of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina and this permission was given to me and the MAF and Health Ministry by the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur.

At the moment, the government is waiting for the procedure set by the Bangladesh government to allow the construction of the hospital," he told a press conference held after visiting the Kutupalong Refugee Camp, about 35km from here Monday (Oct 16).

He said the hospital would be built one month after the process of the procedure has been completed and the Health Ministry will assist through specialist doctors, nurses and medical assistants who will be posted there.

"The hospital will have 35 medical staff such as doctors, hospital assistants and nurses. It will be fully operational within one month (from the start of construction)," he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said in the long term, Malaysia, Bangladesh as well as other countries and international organisations will look for a solution to the problem of the Rohingya refugees who are in Bangladesh.

He said this was one of the issues which were discussed with Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Abul Hasan Mahmod Ali in Dhaka on Sunday (Oct 15).

The worsening humanitarian crisis in the Rakhine state in Myanmar has resulted in the ethnic Rohingya people fleeing into Bangladesh each day and more camps being set up.

The actual number of refugees has not been determined but many parties claim it has exceeded one million people.

Dr Ahmad Zahid began his two-day working visit to Bangladesh on Sunday when he had a meeting with Abul Hasan and the Minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Islam in Dhaka.

He is also scheduled to meet with the Malaysian hockey team which is in Dhaka for the Asia Cup. - Bernama