| Abdul Hakiim Yakof |
A 12-MEMBER team from the Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM) left on Thursday for the Balukhali Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh, headed by the MKM President, Datin Paduka Hajah Intan binti Haji Mohd Kassim.
The group will be in Bangladesh until March 8.
Mohd Yusof bin Halim, the Head of the MKM Humanitarian Mission, said this is their second visit to the refugee camp. The first was in November 2017, with a four-member team.
“We were overwhelmed by the contributions from the public, and our members had to work into the evening for days, sorting out the logistics,” he said. “This was, however, a labour of love, as we were so proud of all the people in Brunei Darussalam who opened up their hearts to help. Receipts had to be issued for each and every donor, and lists were prepared to ensure that the donations are properly channelled.
“The donors can specify whether they wish to donate for general provisions, for the upkeep of a school for orphans, or to build tube wells which provide continuous supply of water.”
Each food pack distributed by MKM will provide a week of sustenance to a family of four. During the second mission, MKM will distribute 13,860 food packs and build 450 tube wells. Each food pack costs B$14, while a tube well costs $400.
“We ensure our tube wells reach a good depth, and that the water is tested before we let the refugees consume from them,” said Mohd Yusof.
MKM maintains constant communication with the military which has authority over the refugee camps, such as updates on the refugees’ needs. As the refugees rarely get to consume meat and sweets, the MKM team will continue the first mission’s practice of cooking hot meals and the distribution of sweets to the orphaned children.
The MKM members will also conduct the slaughtering of several cattle there to feed more than 5,000 children. They will also be restoring a school for orphans set up in October 2017, by their associates.
Currently, the school has 500 students learning English, Bangladeshi and Rohingyan, in addition to Al-Quran. Sixty of these students are involved in a Tahfiz programme.
“Three youths are coming with us this time, with the task of recording the orphans details,” said Datin Paduka Hajah Intan, adding that the data will enable MKM to launch an orphan sponsorship programme sometime this year.
“We are also looking at the possibility of bringing some of our youths to do some short teaching stints,” she said. “This will not only be useful for the orphans, but will also be beneficial for our youths.”
One of the youths in the group, Awangku Zaki bin Pengiran Dato Haji Zaini, said he was looking forward to be part of the charity effort. “I was so horrified and shocked to hear about the plight of the Rohingya refugees,” he told the Weekend Bulletin. I may not be able to do much, but I will certainly do all that I can.”