This is a summary of what was said by Johannes van der Klaauw, UNHCR Representative in Dhaka, Bangladesh – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The massive fire that swept through the Kutupalong Balukhali refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on 22 March has caused loss of life and immense suffering. Based on provisional reports, as of the morning on Tuesday 23 March, 15 refugees have been confirmed as having tragically lost their lives in the fire. More than 560 have been injured and an estimated 400 people are still missing.
UNHCR is rushing to provide critical support and protection to some 45,000 Rohingya refugees who lost their shelters and belongings in the devastating blaze, in support of the ongoing response led by the Bangladeshi authorities and in coordination with IOM and other partners as well as refugee volunteers.
At least 10,000 shelters are estimated to have been destroyed or damaged. Refugees who have been displaced are being temporarily accommodated within the community. Current figures are expected to climb in the coming days as new assessments come in.
With an unknown number of refugees having sustained burn injuries, UNHCR has provided medical supplies through ICRC in support of the management of burn patients. Emergency first aid including psychosocial support is also being provided. Health volunteers from the refugee community are helping to refer affected refugees to critical support services.
Rohingya refugees remain at the centre of the response and have been mobilized since the fire was controlled last night. UNHCR is preparing to reissue registration documents to those who lost theirs in the fire.
UNHCR has provided some 3,000 blankets, 14,500 solar lamps, 10,400 kitchen sets at 11,500 mosquito nets, so far. We have also made available emergency water and sanitation assistance together with Oxfam, including construction of 20 emergency latrines, emergency tap stands, water tanks, jerry cans and water purification tablets. Four water tankers are delivering safe water to areas where those displaced by the fire are congregating.
Using UNHCR’s Interactive Voice Response system, we will be able to call approximately 70 per cent of refugee households in the most affected camps to inform them about the available services and provide targeted assistance. UNHCR teams are monitoring the safety and security of temporary shelters for those displaced, and ensuring assistance meets the critical needs including for unaccompanied and separated children.
Camps at Cox’s Bazar currently shelter over 870,000 Rohingya refugees. The vast majority, some 720,000, arrived in 2017, fleeing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
UNHCR 2021 appeal for Rohingya response totaling US$294.5 million is currently only 16 per cent funded. The effects of 22 March’s lethal and destructive blaze will only exacerbate critical needs and further strain already overstretched resources. The needs are growing by the hour due to this ‘emergency on top of the emergency’ and more support is urgently needed. We cannot do this alone, please help today. Timely support is critical for the ongoing humanitarian response and UNHCR’s capacity to protect and assist both the Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi hosts.
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About UNHCR:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee issues. It strives to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to voluntarily return home when conditions are conducive for return, integrate locally or resettle to a third country. UNHCR has twice won the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1954 for its ground-breaking work in helping the refugees of Europe, and in 1981 for its worldwide assistance to refugees.
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