By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, June 6, 2025
As the world observed World Environment Day on June 5 under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution,” the message carried a deeper urgency in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar. Here, nearly one million displaced people face not only the aftermath of ethnic cleansing, but also the daily consequences of an unfolding environmental disaster.
Plastic Waste Without Borders
In the absence of a structured waste management system, plastic bags, wrappers, and bottles litter camp roads, clog drainage lines, and smother the already eroded hillsides.
“We are just trying to survive,” said Mohammed Anowar (19), a Rohingya youth climate activist. “But even survival becomes harder when the air is polluted and the water is not safe.”
The plastic waste is not only an eyesore—it contributes to blocked drains, water contamination, and increased risk of disease, particularly during the monsoon season.
Monsoon, Deforestation, and Disaster
Every year, the rains bring floods and landslides, especially in camps like Kutupalong and Balukhali, where shelters sit on steep, deforested hills. Trees were cut down in the early emergency phase to build homes. Today, that loss of greenery has made the land unstable and deadly.
“We used to live with trees around us,” said Senu Ara, a mother of five. “Now every rain brings fear. The hills shake.”
Beyond the Camps: A Shared Burden
The environmental impact is felt not only by the refugees but also by the host communities in Ukhiya and Teknaf, where pressure on water sources, firewood, and farmland has increased.
Though UN agencies and NGOs have launched efforts—including reforestation, plastic reduction, and climate education—most of these are small-scale and severely underfunded.
Rising Hope from Within: Youth-Led Action
In the face of crisis, Rohingya youth volunteers are stepping forward. A group called the Youth Environment Team has launched community-driven efforts to plant trees, clean drains, and educate children about plastic waste.
“We may not have banners or microphones,” said Faisal (21), one of the organizers, “but we have our voices. This land is not our homeland—but we still care for it.”
Their initiatives, though modest, reflect a larger truth: environmental justice cannot exclude the stateless.
Main Challenges in the Camps
- Plastic Pollution blocking drainage and contaminating water
- Deforestation leading to erosion and landslides
- Monsoon Flooding displacing families annually
- Lack of Waste Management making health and safety worse
A Call for Inclusive Climate Action
As the global community rallies to fight climate change, Rohingya refugees remain on the frontline—without the tools, funding, or recognition to protect themselves or their environment.
World Environment Day in the camps was not marked by events or speeches. But in the hills of Cox’s Bazar, it was marked by young hands planting trees, voices teaching children, and a quiet resilience refusing to be erased.
“Environmental justice must begin with those left at the edge,” said Anowar. “Because if the margin collapses, the whole world does.”
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