Hamida Begum Dies After Denial of Medical Care in Indian Detention Center

Hamida Begum, a 12-year-old girl, was found dead in a detention center in New Delhi after going missing from a refugee camp in Bangladesh. Her mother, Rojiya, had sought help from authorities to bring her daughter back. Despite her traffickers' arrest, Hamida faced dire conditions at Sewa Sadan, the detention center. Eyewitness accounts revealed that she was denied adequate medical care as her health deteriorated rapidly. Rohingya refugees reported that the ill-treatment at Sewa Sadan, including poor sanitation and inadequate nutrition, contributed to Hamida's suffering. Furthermore, detained individuals often experienced medical requests being ignored by officials. After nearly three weeks, her body was released for an autopsy, which highlighted the tragedy surrounding her death. The UN has expressed alarm regarding the indefinite detention of Rohingya refugees, including children, in India. Many detainees lack access to legal representation or due process. Rojiya struggles with the loss of her daughter and the circumstances leading to her death, fearing the impacts of such tragedies for other families seeking asylum. Hamida's death has been used as a method of intimidation against other refugees who may seek legal action for their relatives' detentions, showcasing the vulnerability of the Rohingya community amidst ongoing challenges in India.