Rohingya Lens

Non-Stop Rainfall Devastates Rohingya Refugee Camps in Cox’s Bazar

Relentless monsoon rains have battered the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar for several consecutive days, causing widespread flooding, landslides, and the collapse of thousands of fragile shelters. The downpour, which began in early July, continues with no sign of letting up, plunging nearly one million refugees into a humanitarian crisis.

Heavy rainfall has triggered over 50 landslides across the hilly terrain of the camps, destroying more than 1,400 shelters and forcing thousands of families to seek emergency refuge in community centers, learning spaces, or even open areas under tarpaulins. Several people, including children, have been injured in wall collapses or struck by lightning, while at least one fatality has been reported.

“Our home collapsed in the night while we were sleeping,” said Nur Jahan, a mother of four in Camp 9. “We were able to escape, but everything we owned is buried under mud.”

The sprawling camps, originally built on deforested slopes of Teknaf and Ukhiya sub-districts, are dangerously prone to landslides and flooding. Most shelters are made from bamboo, plastic sheets, and mud—materials unable to withstand prolonged rain. With paths washed away, latrines flooded, and access routes submerged, movement within and between camps has become treacherous.

Aid workers and refugee volunteers are working around the clock to rescue displaced families, distribute dry food and clean water, and stabilize embankments using sandbags and bamboo reinforcements. However, limited resources and ongoing funding gaps are straining emergency response efforts.

“This is one of the worst monsoon events we’ve seen in years,” said a UNHCR field officer in Cox’s Bazar. “Our teams are trying to reach affected areas, but roads are blocked and some areas are cut off entirely.”

The rains have also disrupted health services and education. Several health posts and learning centers have been closed due to flooding, while sanitation systems have collapsed in many areas, raising the threat of waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea.

Humanitarian agencies are urgently calling for increased international support. As of mid-2025, less than 20% of the year’s Joint Response Plan for Rohingya refugees has been funded, leaving critical disaster preparedness activities under-resourced.

The Rohingya people are once again facing unimaginable hardship, said a representative from a local NGO. “Without immediate assistance, the ongoing rain could lead to more casualties, disease outbreaks, and severe psychological trauma.

As monsoon forecasts predict continued rain for the coming week, the situation in the camps remains dire. The Rohingya, already traumatized by years of displacement and violence, now face another test of survival—this time from the sky.

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Article Editor: #Chatgpt

Date: 7 July, 2025