Heavy rainfall and strong winds have triggered 53 landslides across 33 Rohingya refugee camps at Ukhia and Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar district.
The devastation also resulted one death, 11 injuries due to lightning strikes, and damage to over 1,400 homes.
Mosharraf Hossain, Communications Associate for UNHCR Sub-Office Cox’s Bazar confirmed these figures in a statement on Monday evening.
The statement detailed that the refugee camps have been severely affected by continuous heavy rain for the past four to five days, with the 53 landslides occurring during two days of intense downpour.
In addition, more than 1,400 shelters have been damaged by flooding and strong winds. The fatality from a collapsing wall and the lightning injuries occurred in the early hours of Monday.
Juliet Murekeyisoni, Interim UNHCR Representative, highlighted the perilous situation: “The combination of steep hillsides, flooding, and temporary shelters creates a dangerous environment in this densely populated area. The strong winds have further weakened the bamboo and tarpaulin structures of the homes.”
She further noted that refugee volunteers are assisting in relocating affected families to safer areas and communal centers, but emphasized the urgent need for more shelter space.
While communal facilities are being used for temporary accommodation, she stressed that there was already insufficient shelter in the camps even before the monsoon season began.
This deficit has been exacerbated by the arrival of over one lakh Rohingya in recent months, fleeing specific violence and killings in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, with many taking refuge in relatives’ homes.
Humanitarian agencies are pre-positioning relief items such as tarpaulins, ropes, sleeping mats, water purification tablets, and jerry cans to mitigate risks during the monsoon season.
Rohingya volunteers, trained in first aid and rescue operations, are ready to assist with rescue efforts, aid distribution, and medical needs during emergencies, Murekeyisoni added.
However, the UN Resident Coordinator, Gwen Lewis, pointed out a significant obstacle to these preparedness efforts: a major funding shortfall. Lewis stated, “Rohaingya refugees and surrounding Bangladeshi host communities alike live in an area consistently at risk of floods, landslides, cyclones and other natural hazards.
Being prepared for these disasters is not just important, it is life-saving.” She lamented that while monsoon preparedness typically begins before May, necessary measures could not be fully implemented this year due to a lack of funds.
For 2025, humanitarian agencies sought US$934 million in funding to assist approximately 1.48 million people, including Rohingya refugees and the surrounding Bangladeshi population. Despite being halfway through the year, Lewis revealed that the joint response plan has received less than 20 percent of the requested funding.
