Days of relentless monsoon rains have triggered flash floods and landslides across the Rohingya refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh, worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation and leaving tens of thousands of refugees affected.

According to the Rohingya Coordination Platform (RCP), at least 43,000 Rohingya refugees were impacted between July 5 and July 12, while 9,707 people were displaced after shelters collapsed or became unsafe. The weather-related disasters also claimed 15 lives and injured 21 others, underscoring the growing risks facing nearly one million refugees living in densely populated camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Speaking on Sunday, Filippo Busconi, Senior Inter-Agency Coordination Officer of the RCP, said continuous heavy rainfall has significantly increased the threat of landslides, flash floods and waterlogging throughout the camps.

The crisis has also caused extensive damage to essential infrastructure. Thousands of refugee shelters, learning centres, roads, drainage systems and water and sanitation facilities have been affected, disrupting access to basic services and humanitarian assistance.

The RCP's Daily Incidents Dashboard recorded 482 weather-related incidents during the eight-day period. These included 259 windstorm incidents, 164 landslides, 42 flash floods, five drowning incidents, eight fires, one lightning strike and two infrastructure-related emergencies. Aid agencies warned that the saturated soil and unstable slopes continue to pose a serious threat as the monsoon season progresses.

Data from the Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office showed that the district experienced persistent heavy rainfall throughout the past week, with 240 millimetres of rain recorded on July 5, the highest daily total during the period. Continued rainfall since then has left the hilly camp terrain fully saturated, sharply increasing the likelihood of further landslides and flooding.

Humanitarian organisations have been carrying out emergency evacuations, distributing relief supplies and maintaining life-saving services despite difficult conditions. However, responders caution that ongoing rainfall continues to hamper operations and leaves vulnerable families exposed to further hazards.

While rainfall is expected to ease across much of Cox’s Bazar in the coming days, forecasters have warned of continued heavy rain in Ukhiya and Teknaf, where most Rohingya camps are located. The RCP has urged humanitarian agencies to remain on high alert by closely monitoring official weather advisories, strengthening early warning systems, inspecting shelters and critical infrastructure, and preparing for additional emergency relocations if conditions deteriorate.

The latest weather emergency has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the Rohingya camps, where overcrowding, fragile shelters and steep, deforested hillsides make seasonal monsoon rains one of the most persistent humanitarian threats facing the refugee population.

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