A devastating fire once again swept through the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar, destroying nearly 200 shelters and other facilities. This incident comes just a week after another fire ravaged homes and structures in the same camp. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported from Saturday’s blaze.

Captain Md Amir Zafar of the 8 Armed Police Battalion (APBN) stated that three fire service units managed to control the fire after about an hour and a half. The fire erupted suddenly around 12:45 pm at the Kathaltali market in Tajnimarkhola Rohingya Camp number 13 and spread rapidly.

Upon receiving the alert, APBN police immediately notified the Ukhiya Fire Service Station. However, Captain Zafar could not provide information on the fire's origin.

Just days earlier, on May 24, another fire incident had destroyed approximately 250 houses and other structures in the same camp. No casualties were reported in that incident either.

This marks the third major fire at the Rohingya camp this year. The first, on January 7, destroyed around 800 shelters. In addition to the shelters, about 120 facilities, including learning centers, mosques, healthcare centers, latrines and bathing facilities, water points, and solar street lights, were also damaged, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Bangladesh hosts over 1.1 million Rohingyas, most of whom fled Myanmar following a brutal military crackdown in 2017, which the UN has described as ethnic cleansing and possible genocide.
 

BOB Post