By: RO Maung Shwe
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — June 1, 2025
As monsoon rains intensify across southeastern Bangladesh, more than 900,000 Rohingya refugees sheltering in the hills of Cox’s Bazar find themselves once again on the edge of disaster.
The annual monsoon season—from June through October—brings relentless rain, strong winds, and the constant threat of floods and landslides. For refugees living in makeshift shelters of bamboo and tarpaulin, perched on unstable slopes, this season is not just a hardship—it is a battle for survival.
Lives in Precarious Balance
Rohingya families in camps like Kutupalong, Balukhali, and Nayapara live in overcrowded conditions, often with poor drainage and limited sanitation. As rains intensify, the risk of deadly landslides and waterborne disease outbreaks grows rapidly.
“Every year, we patch our roofs and pray it will hold,” said a refugee from Camp 8. “But with every storm, we lose more—more shelter, more dignity, more sleep.”
During the 2024 monsoon, at least 12 Rohingya lost their lives in landslides, and four drowned in rising floodwaters. Over 2,000 shelters were damaged. Many of those homes have not yet been rebuilt, leaving thousands exposed again ahead of the 2025 rains.
Health Emergency Underway
Beyond structural damage, the monsoon worsens public health risks. Stagnant water and overflowing latrines are fueling fears of outbreaks. Diseases such as cholera, hepatitis E, diarrhea, dengue, and chikungunya pose grave threats, especially for children and the elderly.
A 2024 outbreak of cholera between June and December resulted in 541 culture-confirmed cases, according to health officials. While there were no recorded deaths, the crisis underscored the fragile state of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure across the camps.
This year, with more than 600 latrines and 47 water points already affected by the rain, the risk of a larger outbreak is dangerously high.
Damage Mounts in 2025 Monsoon
Over the past five consecutive days, Cox’s Bazar has seen record rainfall—more than 350 mm in just 72 hours. The flooding has triggered widespread displacement across all 33 Rohingya refugee camps, as well as significant infrastructure damage.
- Shelters damaged/destroyed: Approx. 900
- Latrines affected: 600+
- Water points damaged: 47
- Health & education centers disrupted: Multiple
- Access roads submerged, cutting off aid routes
Humanitarian organizations warn that the coming week of forecasted rain may worsen conditions further, delaying recovery and deepening trauma.
Humanitarian Response Under Pressure
In response to the escalating crisis, Site Management Support Organizations (SMSOs) and Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) teams are working closely with Rohingya communities. Temporary evacuation centers have been established in learning centers and child-friendly spaces, which have been repurposed as safe zones.
Mobile health teams are treating those affected by injuries, dehydration, and waterborne illnesses. Emergency relief—including hygiene kits, cooked meals, high-energy biscuits, and clean water—is being distributed. However, continued rain and funding constraints threaten to outpace the capacity of responders.
Barriers to Recovery
Several long-standing challenges continue to limit the effectiveness of relief operations:
- Access restrictions: Roads are submerged or washed out, delaying aid delivery.
- Insufficient shelters: Most homes cannot withstand extreme weather.
- Mental health strain: Displacement, repeated trauma, and uncertainty are taking a psychological toll.
- Funding gaps: Appeals for 2025 remain underfunded, threatening essential services.
- Environmental degradation: Years of deforestation and overcrowding have worsened soil erosion and instability.
The Bigger Picture: A Crisis Repeating Itself
Even after Cyclone Mocha in 2023, which impacted over 930,000 Rohingya, only a fraction of damaged shelters were rebuilt. That same year, 2.3 million people in Bangladesh were affected by cyclone-related flooding and wind damage.
Today, the community remains vulnerable, trapped between seasonal disasters and chronic neglect. For families who have fled genocide and persecution in Myanmar, monsoon rains bring fresh fear each year—without the protection of strong homes, statehood, or legal rights.
“We are not just getting wet,” said one elder. “We are drowning—in rain, in fear, and in silence.”
A Renewed Call to Action
Humanitarian groups are calling for urgent international support to address the current crisis and prepare for worsening conditions. Funding is needed to:
- Reinforce shelters and drainage systems
- Restore damaged WASH facilities
- Maintain disease surveillance
- Ensure food and water access
- Provide psychosocial support
- Advocate for durable solutions, including safe and voluntary repatriation to Myanmar
“Rohingya refugees have shown incredible resilience,” said a humanitarian official in Cox’s Bazar. “But resilience is not a substitute for rights, nor is survival a long-term solution.”
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