Médecins Sans Frontières - Cox's bazar fire DSC05161.JPG

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB63221

Date taken / Date Recorded 23/03/2021 11:29 AM

Country Bangladesh

Detailed location Cox, Bangladesh

Commissioning section MSF-NETHERLANDS

Photographer / videographer / producer Pau Miranda

Copyright Pau Miranda

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★★★ (B)

Maximum Size 6000px × 4000px 9.13 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist A large fire has broken out in camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh where around 900,000 refugees are currently living. MSF’s Balukhali specialized clinic was completely destroyed by the fire. Fortunately, all patients and staff were evacuated before the fire intensified. MSF treated 11 people who were wounded as a result of the fire in Kutupalong hospital and the hospital on the hill.

This is not the first fire in the camp over the last months, devastating the lives of many Rohingya refugees living there. Their shelters are built with temporary and flimsy materials, which means that in the densely populated camps in Cox’s Bazar, fire spreads rapidly. Living conditions in the camps are deteriorating with reduced access to healthcare, increased violence and insufficient basic living conditions.

The full impact of the fire on the community is yet to be seen as the fire continued to burn overnight. It is still not clear how many shelters, healthcare facilities and other humanitarian infrastructure has been destroyed. This is a major blow to the Rohingya community, who have been suffering the consequences of the deteriorating living conditions in the camps – with reduced access to healthcare and other humanitarian services. The Rohingya have been denied the ability to return to their homes in Myanmar safely and with dignity. The restrictions on their freedom of movement and with no access to livelihoods in Bangladesh, including the ability to work, mean that they are entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance.