Cox’s Bazar fire affects over 2,000 refugees, destroys 335 homes  

Another massive fire in Cox’s Bazar highlights the extreme vulnerability of Rohingya refugees living in overcrowded, makeshift homes – and the need for safer shelter, statement by Norwegian Refugee Council has said.

A massive fire broke out around 3:00 AM on 20 January 2026 in Camp 16, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, home to thousands of Rohingya refugees. The fire destroyed 335 homes and everything in them, and damaging hundreds more. More than 2,000 people have been affected. All families living in the destroyed homes have been forced to relocate to relatives or friends. 

“This fire highlights the extreme vulnerability of Rohingya refugees living in overcrowded, makeshift homes that burn rapidly and offer little protection. A single spark can devastate entire sections of the camp, further exhausting already vulnerable families,” said Dipankar Datta, NRC’s country director in Bangladesh. 

“Families have been living in these fragile shelters for years. They are entitled to safety and dignity and should not have to live in constant uncertainty. Without new funding, we simply cannot rebuild the homes people urgently need.”

The fire spread quickly through Blocks D2, D3, and D4, fueled by highly flammable materials such as bamboo and polythene and densely packed structures. In addition to destroyed homes, the blaze severely damaged critical facilities, including 86 latrines, 68 bathing cubicles, 11 water points, 40 solar streetlights, 10 learning centres, and 2 mosques/madrasas. 

“My entire shelter was destroyed in the fire. Our bed, cooking utensils, and clothes were burned to ashes. I don’t know how and where my family and I will spend tonight,” said Nur Mohammad, a refugee living in Camp 16.

For years, Rohingya refugees have been living in fragile, makeshift shelters due to delays in approving improved shelter designs. Similar fires over the years have affected more than 100,000 people and destroyed 20,000 homes.

In December 2024, the Interim Government of Bangladesh approved three new semi-permanent shelter models that were intended to support the reconstruction of 50,000 safer shelters across the camps.

However, major humanitarian funding cuts announced in January 2025 halted the reconstruction plan, leaving the response critically underfunded. In 2025, just half of the required funding for the Rohingya response was delivered resulting in a funding gap of US $466.6 million. Without adequate funding, humanitarian organisations cannot rebuild these safer structures, leaving families trapped in shelters that cannot withstand fire, storms, or monsoon conditions.

“The government’s approval of new shelter designs was a hopeful moment for the Rohingya community. We don’t want that progress to stop. With donor support, we can give families a safer place to live,” said Datta.

“Funding now needs to be urgently stepped up so we can resume construction of the 50,000 approved semi-permanent shelters. Without immediate action, fires like this one in Camp 16 in Cox’s Bazar, will continue to threaten lives and force families to rebuild from nothing again and again.”