Rohingya emergency
Rohingya emergency
They joined previous influxes of Rohingya who fled the country in the 70s and 90s. Today, nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh, most of them in Cox's Bazar district, near the border with Myanmar. The strain on the local host community and its already stretched facilities and services has been immense.
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
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Most Rohingya refugees are living in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar, which together make up the world’s largest refugee settlement. More than six years on from the latest influx from Myanmar, this is also one of the world's largest protracted refugee situations.
Since 2017, the humanitarian community has closely collaborated with the Government of Bangladesh to respond to the humanitarian repercussions of this massive displacement. Despite these efforts, living conditions in the densely populated camps are dire, particularly for women and children who are vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and human trafficking. Ensuring a safe environment for refugees, including by protecting them from natural hazards, fire, and environmental degradation, remains a challenge. Between June and October, the monsoon season brings intense rainfall and strong winds, elevating the risk of floods and landslides for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya living in fragile shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulin.
During the rainy season, refugees living in overcrowded camps and lacking proper water and sanitation facilities are also at heightened risk from water-borne diseases such as hepatitis, acute diarrhoea and dengue.
Climate change means it’s too hot during the summer and too rainy during the monsoon,” says Samia. “I’ve seen with my own eyes shelters being broken by landslides and people being injured.
Together with our partners, we are working in support of the Bangladesh government to respond to the massive humanitarian needs.
In the opening days, weeks and months of the crisis, UNHCR airlifted more than 1,500 metric tons of emergency life-saving aid to Bangladesh – including blankets, plastic sheets, sleeping mats, family tents, plastic rolls, kitchen sets, jerry cans and buckets.
Together with our partners, we are also helping the government to develop new sites that can safely accommodate refugees. This includes funding a road to facilitate construction and refugee access, supporting site planning, building latrines and wells, improving the water and sanitation facilities and distributing shelter materials.
In an effort to improve sanitation and access to drinkable water, we have built thousands of latrines and water points for the refugees, thereby mitigating the risks of health problems such as acute watery diarrhoea.
UNHCR is working to mainstream refugee protection in all refugee settlements. With its partners, it is developing a referral system and safe spaces for survivors of gender-based violence. We are also enhancing efforts to identify and refer children at risk for the appropriate support.
Life in the world’s largest refugee settlement
Rohingya refugee girls attending an Adolescents’ Club in Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
A vendor walks through one of the camps in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
Girls collect water at a water point in Kutupalong.
Boys play soccer on the edge of one of the camps in Kutupalong.
Refugees walk through smoke from a fire in Kutupalong’s Balukhali refugee camp on 5 March 2023.
A Rohingya refugee and community outreach volunteer who works to raise awareness about gender-based violence in Kutupalong.
Rohingya refugee women learn how to make bags and other products from jute at the Jute Production Centre in Kutupalong.
Rohingya refugee volunteers work at a nursery that grows plants to re-green the camps.
Children get ready to play football in Camp 2 East section of Kutupalong.
Children play football in Kutupalong refugee camp, Cox’s Bazar.
Are you a refugee or asylum-seeker? Find information about your rights and available services on our HELP site.
Are you looking for data on displacement in Myanmar? Visit the UNHCR data portal for the latest data and statistics on refugees and other displaced persons.
For information on UNHCR's operational response, budgets and funding, please visit the Myanmar situation page on Global Focus.
