Rohingya camp at landslide risk

The Rohingya camps in Ukhia and Teknaf are at risk of landslides due to the heavy rains caused by Cyclone Remal in the Bay of Bengal.

According to the latest bulletin of the Meteorological Department, under the influence of this powerful cyclone, landslides may occur in the hilly areas of Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachari and Chattogram.

The camp houses are made of bamboo. In order to minimize damage, camp dwellers have been warned of the cyclone through miking block by block in the camp.

More than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees sheltered in the camps are in fear of the imminent danger.

Due to the cyclone, fear and anxiety are working among the Rohingya sheltered in the camp.

In this regard, Abul Hossain, a resident at the D Block of Ukhia No-4 Rohingya Camp, said, “My house is under the hill, and the house was damaged by rain before. The government is cautioning us through miking, we are in fear. I don't know what will happen."

Meanwhile, since Sunday (May 26) morning, the activities of volunteers have been seen to evacuate the residents of high-risk houses to safe shelters.

According to the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees, Relief and Repatriation, more than 3,000 volunteers are working in the Rohingya camps as part of the disaster response.
Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shamsuddouja Nayan said, "Extensive preparations have been made with the concerted efforts of the camp administration and the working allied agencies."

During last year's cyclone 'Mokha', around 21,000 houses were estimated as being at risk of landslides. According to the information of an organization engaged in the management of the camp, about 27,000 houses are at risk of possible landslides due to Remal.

Around 5:00pm on Sunday, about 50,000 people in the coastal areas of Maheshkhali, Qutubdia, Teknaf, and St Martin in Cox's Bazar district are trapped in water due to the influx of tidal waves.

The administration is working to evacuate them. All hotels in St Martin have been declared shelters by the district administration. Some 638 shelters are ready with about 8,000 volunteers in the district.