by Hafizur Rahman
A massive fire broke out at around 3:00 am on 20 January at Shofiullah Khata Camp 16 in Cox’s Bazar, destroying hundreds of shelters and leaving a large number of Rohingya families homeless, according to initial assessments by camp residents.
Local sources said the fire completely burned down 448 shelters across four sub blocks D1, D2, D3, and D4. More than 40 additional shelters were partially damaged.
Mosque and learning centers destroyed
The fire also destroyed key community facilities, including one mosque, one religious learning center, and ten NGO supported learning centers. As a result, religious activities and children’s education in the affected areas have been severely disrupted.
Parents said many children are now unable to attend learning spaces, adding to the distress caused by the loss of homes.
Families lose everything
Hundreds of Rohingya families lost all of their belongings, including clothes, cooking utensils, food supplies, and personal documents. The fire occurred during the winter season, increasing health risks for children, elderly people, and women who are now exposed to cold weather.
A Rohingya man from Block D2 described the moment the fire spread. “I woke up when people were shouting that there was a fire. When I came outside, my shelter was already burning. I could not save anything. Now my children are sitting outside with nothing,” he said.
A Rohingya woman whose shelter was destroyed said the loss felt unbearable. “This shelter was our only home. We escaped violence before, and now fire has taken everything again. We do not know where we will sleep tonight,” she said.
An elderly resident expressed concern about the wider impact. “The fire burned our houses, our mosque, and the learning centers. Our children are suffering again. If help does not come quickly, our situation will become worse,” he said.
Urgent humanitarian needs
Residents and community leaders said the affected families urgently need emergency shelter, blankets, warm clothing, food, clean drinking water, and medical support. They warned that without immediate assistance, exposure to cold, illness, and psychological distress could worsen rapidly.
Community members called on humanitarian organizations and NGOs working in the camps to respond quickly by providing temporary shelters and tarpaulins, distributing winter items, ensuring food and water supplies, supporting the reopening of learning centers, and offering psychosocial support, particularly for children and women affected by the fire.
As of the latest update, a detailed damage assessment and official response plan had not yet been publicly announced.
