By The Stateless Rohingya

Maungdaw, Northern Rakhine State: Yasin Johar, son of Bodi Alom and another child of Samuda Khatun died after forced vaccination on December 25 while many Rohingya children are in critical condition in Sha’ab Bazar rural health centre.

On December 23, the Burmese government launched a forced vaccination programme with Community Health Worker for Rohingya children in Kha Maung Seik, Quarter 4, Mi Kyaung Chaung village under Border Guard Command Centre 2 in Northern Maungdaw, Rakhine State. The vaccinations were administered without any informed consent and forced parents to get their children vaccinated, otherwise threatened with extortion and arrest.

Many Rohingya families are forced to follow the order of the medical team despite objections. Since then, several children reportedly become sick, among them are Jonnat Tara Begum, Kowsara and Nojumullah, in critical conditions. The rural health centre in poorly equipped to provide life-saving emergency care.

Due to the restriction of freedom of movement, the children cannot be brought to the district hospital in downtown Maungdaw, fearing the children would not survive the critical condition.

The parents and family members are yet to be notified of the type of vaccination provided by the team. However, many believed as Polio immunization.

According to Thomas O. Quintana’s Progress Report of the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, there is a doctor for 140,000 Rohingya population compared to one per 682 Rakhine, which is 28 times below than WHO recommendation of 1 doctor per 5,000.

The denials of healthcare along with prohibition of training Rohingya healthcare professional, intentional administration of toxic vaccinations, medical negligence and physical or sexual harassment of Rohingya patients, are considered to the flag-bearing case of the slow-burning medical genocide against Rohingya.

Since October 9, the town is under complete lockdown preventing movement, humanitarian assistance and international independent investigation as the armed forces continue to their killing spree – leaving more than 700 death, at least 300 gang-raped cases, more than 40,000 homeless after destructions of their villages and 160,000 without humanitarian assistance in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships.