Child swept away in floodwater at Ukhiya Rohingya camp dies

A two-and-a-half-year-old Rohingya child has died after being swept away by floodwater at Kutupalong Rohingya Camp-5 in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar.

The incident occurred in Block D-2 of the camp around 1pm on Wednesday, August 5. The deceased is Mohammad Arshid, son of Mohammad Jalil, a resident of Block D-2 of Camp-5 in Ukhiya.

Family and local sources said the child went missing during a strong current amid waterlogging caused by continuous heavy rainfall. Upon receiving the news, family members, local Rohingya and volunteers began searching for him.

Ali Juha, a member of the camp's CIC committee, said the child went missing in a flooded area of Block D-2 of Camp-5 at midday. After a long search, family members recovered the child's body from the Balukhali Customs canal in Ukhiya on Wednesday evening.

Hamid Ullah, head majhi of Ukhiya's Camp-5, said water had risen to knee-deep in various areas of the camp due to continuous rain since midday. While playing, the child was swept away by the current and went missing. Later, after a long search by locals and family members, his body was recovered in the evening. He described the incident as deeply tragic.