In Cox's Bazar, continuous heavy rain for over a week has left many Rohingyas living in constant fear of landslides. The local weather office has issued warnings about the potential for such disasters.

While some Rohingyas have sought shelter in safer areas, many remain in perilous hillside locations with no alternative options. The refugee camps in Cox's Bazar house approximately 1.2 million Rohingyas.

The tragic landslide incident on June 19, which claimed the lives of eight Rohingyas and two Bangladeshi nationals, is still a fresh memory for the community. Following this incident, Refugee, Relief, and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman pointed to the lack of maintenance of protective measures as a contributing factor.

"Protection measures including fences and sandbags were not maintained for the last two years due to budget cuts by site management agencies," Rahman stated. He also highlighted the challenge of permanently relocating Rohingyas living in landslide-prone areas.

"We spend our days wandering to avoid landslides. At night, panic sets in as we return to our shanties at the hill's base. We have nowhere else to go," said Mohammad Rochit, a resident of Camp 8.

Mohammad Samsudduza, the additional refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, explained the difficulty in identifying at-risk individuals, as the entire camp is situated in a hilly region. He estimated that around 2,000-3,000 Rohingyas are at risk, with many temporarily relocated to safer spots.

Efforts are underway by various organizations to mitigate landslide risks in the camps. Md Emdad, chairman o Camp 10, reported that many residents of his camp have been moved to community centers and other safer locations to avoid potential landslides.

BOB Post