Fresh disaster strikes overcrowded refugee camps

A statement by Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Asia says another disaster struck the overcrowded refugee camps (pop 938,280) of Cox’s Bazar, BD, as a fire on 7 Jan 2024 razes 700+ shelters, leaving 5,000 #Rohingya homeless. 120 facilities, including latrines, water points, mosques, learning and health centres also damaged or destroyed.

The NRC said the 5,000 #Rohingya refugees who lost their homes yesterday face risks of exposure in the chilly winter months. “The fire also reduced personal items to ashes, including crucial identity registration documents required for accessing goods and services.”

“Our teams in the camps assess that close to 100 households have lost all types of documentation.

“Our mobile Emergency Help Desks are now operating in the affected camp to support those who lost vital identity documents.”

The #Rohingya community in Bangladesh, the NRC said has endured over six years in cramped and unsafe conditions with increasing security and protection risks. “We must work towards long-term, sustainable, durable solutions to stop the cycle of despair for the most vulnerable.”