By: Camp Correspondent
May 21, 2025
A 10-year-old Rohingya girl tragically drowned after being swept away by strong water currents during heavy rainfall in Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia. Her body was recovered the following day, sending shockwaves through the local Rohingya and refugee communities.
The girl, identified as Nu Raida, also known as Nur Mohammed, was found on Tuesday, May 20, at approximately 11:20 a.m. in Sungai Kerayong—around 6 kilometers downstream from the spot where she had fallen.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, May 19, near the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) Hall in Kampung Cheras Baru. Nu Raida and another 11-year-old Rohingya girl were returning home from school when both fell into an open roadside drain, which had become swollen and dangerous due to continuous rainfall.
“Local residents managed to rescue one of the girls immediately,” said a community member.
“But Nu Raida was pulled away by the current. We couldn’t do anything.”
Emergency services received a report at 6:07 p.m., and search operations began swiftly. However, heavy rain and poor visibility forced rescuers to temporarily halt efforts at 10:30 p.m. The search resumed the next morning at 9:00 a.m., and her body was discovered along the riverbank, entangled near debris.
Authorities have since handed the body over to the police, and it was sent to Ampang Hospital for examination and formalities.
The tragedy has left the local Rohingya community heartbroken, especially those in the Kampung Cheras Baru area, where many refugees live in challenging conditions. Parents and neighbors are now calling for better drainage safety, especially in vulnerable neighborhoods where open drains and flooding pose daily risks to children.
“She had no fault. She was just coming home from school,” said a relative.
“All we want is dignity for her and safety for others.”
This heartbreaking loss also brings renewed attention to the precarious conditions faced by refugee children in Malaysia, where infrastructure risks and lack of official protection compound their already fragile lives.
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