5 Rohingya teenagers arrived at GIFT Foundation
It has be a week since UNHCR sends 5 Rohingya teenagers to GIFT Foundation. They have been detained for 7 months at the Immigration Detention Center in north of Malaysia. According to UNHCR, they arrived on a boat and were intercepted by the Malaysian border patrol. It took UNHCR the longest time to appeal on the children’s behalf and take them under their care. The children were driven straight from the detention center to UNHCR in Kuala Lumpur for processing and then to GIFT Foundation. They were car sick throughout the 4 hours journey and upset over the entire ordeal.
Escape Risk
Rohingya teenagers are escape risks because they believe they are being locked up and barred from meeting their relatives in Malaysia. UNHCR is still in the process of identify their relatives and concerns about them being victims of human trafficking. Fortunately, Shane has worked with at risk children in the United States so he sets up some strict regulations for everyone. For safety measures, the teenagers will be locked in a big room with access to a bathroom at night. All children at GIFT Foundation are not allowed free access in and out of the house. The main gate is now permanently locked. It takes some adjustments and reminders especially to the younger children.
Course of actions
The Rohingya teenagers came with just the clothes on their backs so we opened boxes of used clothes for them to choose from. We couldn’t find pants that fit a boy so Dr. Firdaus gave one of her son’s. On the second day, all of them went through health screening, dental and checking for head lice. This is probably their first experience with needles and we have to assure them they will be alright. It is difficult because we don’t have a Rohingya translator. We believe the boy is very young, likely around 10 years old. He is very receptive to us while the older girls eye us with suspicions.
Generous donations for Rohingya Teenagers
Our friend and family in the United States immediately sent money to help us out. Special mention to Jonas Hawk (he spent years teaching in Penang, Malaysia) and our son and wife, Ryan and Kasandra. Between the three of them and ourselves, we purchase basic grooming essentials, soaps and shampoos, detergents, undergarments, boy pants, towels, and 7 kilos of fish. Mr Hakimee, a regular donor for GIFT Foundation donated packets of rice, oil, sugar, Milo and used clothes.
Words have spread in our Champa community that GIFT Foundation have 5 Rohingya teenagers in the house. Pak Halim and Ahmad make a 3 hours drive from Perak with some fishes from their fish farm. Cik Fatimah from Segamat, Johor takes a 6 hours bus ride to bring new baju kurung (clothes) for the girls and t-shirts for boy. The joy on the girls’ faces are priceless. For the first time we see happy emotions and hugs. Shane and I are in awe of the Champa community when it comes to helping one another.
Read more about our humanitarian work in Malaysia by clicking on the link HERE.