Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps become increasingly vulnerable to landslides

As of September 16, the Bangladeshi government reported that over 150,000 Rohingya refugees had entered the country's 33 camps in Teknaf and Ukhiya areas of Cox’s Bazar in recent months. These settlements, spanning approximately 24 square kilometers, are home to 1,170,978 individuals, resulting in a density of more than 124,300 people per square mile.

This overcrowding makes the camps increasingly susceptible to collapse, especially with the influx of new arrivals, according to the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC).

Studies indicate that the camps, constructed on sandy hill slopes following the clearing of large forested areas, are also highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Each year, heavy monsoon rains trigger numerous landslides in the Rohingya camps. In 2023 alone, between July 4 and 19, more than 200 landslides occurred, claiming at least 15 lives, including five adolescent girls.

In Ukhiya, a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, the situation is particularly dire due to recurring landslides. Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, the refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, expressed concern to Mongabay on September 8, stating, "The refugee community demands camp expansion with continued influx from Myanmar. However, any expansion would involve the destruction of new forests and hills, which Bangladesh cannot afford anymore."

The Rohingya influx in 2017 initially led to a similar predicament, highlighting the ongoing struggle to balance refugee needs with environmental conservation and infrastructure limitations.