Heavy Rains Cause Deadly Landslides in Cox’s Bazar Refugee Camps

In recent days, heavy monsoon rains have triggered landslides in the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, resulting in the deaths of ten people, including eight Rohingyas. Among the victims were two children. The landslides occurred in Ukhiya, affecting multiple camps, including Camps 1, 8, 9, 10, and 14.

The relentless downpour has led to the destruction or damage of over 1,000 shelters, displacing nearly 8,000 people. Additionally, seven children sustained injuries, including two boys who narrowly avoided drowning in a river. We expect the monsoon season, which has just begun, to last for another two months, raising concerns about further landslides and flooding.

Flimsy materials like bamboo and tarpaulins construct many of the shelters in the camps, rendering them highly susceptible to extreme weather. The densely packed shelters on steep hills exacerbate the risk of landslides, posing significant threats to the safety of the residents, especially the children, who make up more than half of the camp’s population.

Save the Children, an international NGO active in the Cox’s Bazar camps, is responding to the crisis by repairing damaged water and sanitation facilities and using some of its learning centers to house those who have lost their homes. They emphasize the urgent need for durable housing solutions to protect refugees from such disasters.

In northeastern Bangladesh, heavy rains have also caused widespread flooding, submerging hundreds of villages and cutting off at least 1.2 million people due to flooded roads. The rising water levels have forced the relocation of approximately 4,000 people to emergency shelters.

Shumon Sengupta, Country Director for Save the Children in Bangladesh, highlighted the vulnerability of Bangladesh to extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to the climate crisis. He stressed the importance of protecting communities from such events to prevent further tragedies.

The meteorological department has issued warnings for continued heavy rainfall and potential landslides in the coming days, advising local ports to display warning signals and fishing boats to proceed with caution.