By Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, June 2, 2025 — Rohingya Khobor
Torrential rain over the past 48 hours has caused widespread flooding and landslides across multiple Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh, forcing hundreds of families into emergency shelters and once again exposing the fragility of life in the camps.
Among the worst-affected are Kutupalong, Balukhali, and Chakmarkul, as well as multiple camp sectors across Ukhiya and Teknaf. More than eight camps—including Camp 1W, 2W, 3, 7, 8W, and 22—have reported serious damage, with muddy floodwater entering shelters, destroying belongings, and cutting off access roads.
Over 700 Families Displaced Overnight
Sources from inside the camps confirm that at least 700 Rohingya families have been displaced by rising water and landslides, their homes destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.
Many of them are now taking refuge in:
- Temporary learning centers,
- Makeshift emergency shelters,
- Or open spaces covered only by tarpaulin.
Though the World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food, affected families say the support is far from sufficient, and they lack access to clean water, dry clothes, and sanitation.
“We are soaked, hungry, and sick. Our homes are gone, and the children are shivering,” said a displaced woman from Camp 2W.
Shelters Built to Fail
This disaster once again highlights the dangerous living conditions faced by over a million Rohingya refugees, most of whom live in shelters made of bamboo and plastic sheets—structures that offer no real protection during the monsoon season.
Since fleeing the Myanmar military’s ethnic cleansing campaign in 2017, the Rohingya community has faced year after year of environmental vulnerability, with no permanent infrastructure and limited investment in safety and resilience.
Urgent Humanitarian Needs
Community leaders and humanitarian groups are now calling for:
- Emergency relief distribution for displaced families,
- Drainage system upgrades,
- Reinforcement of high-risk shelter zones,
- And early monsoon preparedness measures before further rains.
“Every year we say the same thing. Every year we drown the same way,” said a local camp volunteer. “When will they build something that lasts?”
