مÉدچينس سنس فرونتيÈريس تاور بنتوان كڤد كراجأن اونتوق ‘سلامتكن ڽاوا ڤلارين’
The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has submitted that the response to Covid-19 should not come at the expense of Malaysia fulfilling its humanitarian obligations under international law towards people in distress at sea.
According a statement by its Head of Mission for Malaysia, Beatrice Lau, it is equally important to attend to the other health needs of survivors following their long and perilous journey.
“If indeed the government is concerned about its capacity to allow safe disembarkation during the Covid-19 outbreak, MSF, as a medical humanitarian organisation, is willing to further support the government in its Covid-19 and general health response with regards to refugees and asylum-seekers.”
She spoke of the need for Malaysia to live up to a promise made by South East Asian nations on various occasions since the Andaman crisis, including during the Bali Process, where the primacy of saving lives at sea was emphasised.
PETALING JAYA: The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has submitted that the response to Covid-19 should not come at the expense of Malaysia fulfilling its humanitarian obligations under international law towards people in distress at sea.
According a statement by its Head of Mission for Malaysia, Beatrice Lau, it is equally important to attend to the other health needs of survivors following their long and perilous journey.
The statement, which appeared in Astro Awani, spoke of MSF’s willingness as a medical humanitarian organisation to assist the federal government.
“If indeed the government is concerned about its capacity to allow safe disembarkation during the Covid-19 outbreak, MSF, as a medical humanitarian organisation, is willing to further support the government in its Covid-19 and general health response with regards to refugees and asylum-seekers.
“By upholding its responsibility, Malaysia will help to save the lives of many people desperately looking for safety, including children,” she said.
Beatrice cited the case of Rohingya refugees rescued by the Bangladesh Coast Guard on Bangladesh’s south-eastern coastline on the 14th of April 2020.
“The accounts that emaciated survivors told MSF’s staff at a transit centre in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, were nothing short of horrifying.
“They recounted how, with two to three people dying every day, and despite the fact that they were in clear distress, no state in the region seemed willing to save them as they were denied permission to land,” she said.
She spoke of the need for Malaysia to live up to a promise made by South East Asian nations on various occasions since the Andaman crisis, including during the Bali Process, where the primacy of saving lives at sea was emphasised.
“From a public health point of view, the risk that boat arrivals from Myanmar and Bangladesh are suffering from Covid-19 is very low, as they have effectively been quarantined on boats for weeks during their journey.
“However, if the government sees quarantine as a prerequisite as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, MSF is willing to support the government by providing medical capacity during quarantine, including screening and swabbing.
“It is equally important to attend to the other health needs of survivors following their long and perilous journey.
“MSF is able to provide primary healthcare, mental health services, malnutrition treatment and SGBV counselling and treatment.”
THE THIRD FORCE
NOTA: SAYA MEMBUAT PENGUMUMAN-PENGUMUMAN PENTING DARI MASA KE SEMASA EKSKLUSIF MENERUSI SALURAN TELEGRAM BERIKUT:
