Severe monsoon conditions have caused “catastrophic and massive floods” in Bangladesh, affecting over 18 million people, including nearly one million Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has rushed humanitarian relief items to help those in need.
“The situation is very dire,” said UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler. “We are providing core relief items and other humanitarian support to help address the most immediate needs of the local communities.”
The floods have submerged vast areas of the country’s east and southeast, trapping over 1.2 million families. Massive damage has been reported to roads, croplands, and fisheries, severely impacting livelihoods.
UNHCR has transported medical supplies, water purification tablets, jerry cans, hygiene kits, and emergency shelters to the worst-affected areas. The agency is working around the clock to support affected Rohingya refugees, said Spindler.
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus has called for sustained international efforts to support Rohingya humanitarian operations and their eventual repatriation to Myanmar with safety, dignity, and full rights.
The Rohingya people have faced horrific violence and persecution, prompting their exodus from Myanmar in 2017. Today, over one million Rohingya remain sheltered in Bangladesh, with little prospect of returning home.
