By: Camp Correspondent
April 10, 2025 | Unchiprang Camp-22, Cox’s Bazar
A late-night fire ravaged the market area of Unchiprang Camp-22 in Cox’s Bazar, destroying nine Rohingya-run shops in the early hours of April 10. The blaze broke out around 1:20 AM, causing significant damage but fortunately sparing residential shelters, mosques, and schools within the camp.
Eyewitnesses believe the fire may have started in a furniture shop where coal was being used, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed. The flames spread rapidly, engulfing adjacent businesses and threatening to cause wider destruction.
“My shop was gone before I could save anything,” said Aman Ullah, one of the shopkeepers who lost everything. “But I thank Allah that no one was hurt. Now we need urgent support to rebuild our lives.”
Another affected vendor, Hason, described the frantic early moments. “We tried to stop the fire with buckets of water until the volunteer team arrived. It was heartbreaking to watch our earnings burn, but the way the community came together gave us strength.”
Volunteers from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), trained in camp-based fire response, arrived quickly and helped contain the blaze. Local Rohingya residents also played a vital role, forming human chains, controlling the perimeter, and ensuring the fire did not reach nearby shelters.
Community leaders praised the swift response. “This could have been much worse. The volunteers and residents worked hand in hand to protect our people. Their unity saved lives,” said a camp leader who visited the site shortly after the incident.
The incident highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by refugees living in densely populated, resource-scarce camps where fire hazards remain a constant threat. Community members have called for improved fire safety training, fire extinguishers in marketplaces, and emergency preparedness support.
