Dermatology in the world's largest refugee camp

The Rohingya crisis and living conditions in the Kutupalong refugee camp

Since violence broke out in the Rakhine state of Myanmar in August 2017, large numbers of Rohingya people fled to neighbouring Bangladesh. They now reside in the world’s largest refugee settlement with a population of almost 900,000.¹ Living conditions are harsh; over 75% of families live in shared shelters and space can be as low as 8m2 per person in some areas.2 Flooding is common in some parts and access to clean water and proper sanitation is limited. Communicable diseases are prevalent and healthcare services are stretched.

How did you develop interest in skin health in refugees?

In 2015, I spent three months working as a general medic in a small hospital in rural Thailand close to the Burmese border. The hospital had 25 inpatients beds and three outpatient clinic rooms. We catered to both Thai and non-Thai residents as well as those without any registration papers, including refugees. We treated many patients that were displaced from neighbouring Myanmar, including Rohingya people.