The International Organization for Migration in coordination with the humanitarian actors in Cox’s Bazar will conduct technical assessments as soon as possible to better assess the damage caused by the fire at Balukhali Rohingya camp in Ukhiya on Sunday, and the immediate and longer-term needs of the affected people.
The organisation has deployed a mobile medical team on the ground to provide assistance as needed, a press release said on Monday.
Additionally, IOM through its communications with communities (CwC) team is being deployed within the camp to ensure people have access to the right information.
IOM has taken immediate steps to mobilise non-food item kits for all affected households - which are being supplemented with blankets to help those affected to keep warm amidst the cold dry weather.
IOM Bangladesh Officer-in-Charge Nusrath Ghazzali said, “We are coordinating with other humanitarian actors to ensure that those affected are provided with food, health, protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. Shelter repair/rebuilding and access to cooking facilities – in the form of LPG are top priorities as the affected families seek to recover from the damages caused by the fire.”
A devastating fire swept through Camp-16 under IOM’s area of responsibility in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday afternoon, impacting thousands of Rohingyas and host community members, and causing considerable damage to parts of the camp.
When the fire was first reported just before 5:00pm, IOM immediately mobilised response teams to protect the Rohingyas and bring the situation back under control in coordination with the local authorities and firefighting units, read the release.
The latest fire comes a week after another fire broke out at Camp-20 Extension on January 2, causing significant damage to IOM’s Severe Acute Respiratory Infection and Isolation and Treatment Center (SARI ITC).
The conditions in the camps make large fires a real risk.
In March 2021, a deadly fire that broke out in the camp resulted in loss of lives, displaced 45,000 Rohingyas and caused catastrophic damage to the camp.
