Following the fire outbreak in a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar on March 5, and its devastating consequences on people living in the most affected areas, the EU has released €1 million in emergency humanitarian assistance.
The funding will focus on shelter and stabilisation of slopes, repair of damaged water and sanitation facilities, emergency health interventions and prevention of disease outbreaks in the camp.
The International Organization for Migration was able to immediately deploy response teams at the outbreak of the fire, to support the affected communities and prevent further damage.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, explained, “EU support has been essential to the immediate response to the widespread fire in the Cox's Bazar refugee camp. Right after the outbreak, EU-supported emergency units and volunteers were deployed on the ground to contain the fire and prevent even more dramatic losses.
"This confirms once again that disaster preparedness can be lifesaving for local communities. With this additional funding, we will ensure that the most urgent shelter, health and sanitation needs of people living in the affected areas are met."
On March 5, a devastating fire broke out in one the 33 camps hosting almost 1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar.
The blaze destroyed an estimated 2,805 shelters, as well as health and education facilities, water networks and other key infrastructures for people living in the camp.
Rohingyas in the most affected areas lost their belongings, including registration documents, with families and individuals displaced or relocated with relatives, friends or in facilities such as learning centres.
Rohingyas fled targeted violence in their native Myanmar in 2017, and the majority have since been hosted by Bangladesh in camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Living conditions in the congested camps remain precarious, and the Rohingyas are entirely dependent on humanitarian aid.
In February this year, the EU released over €23 million to support the efforts of Bangladesh in responding to the Rohingya crisis. Part of the funds also contributes to disaster preparedness programmes in the country.
