Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are once again facing life-threatening conditions due to recent landslides, prompting alarm among human rights organizations. A report by Human Rights Watch highlights that at least 17 individuals have been killed, and over 3,000 displaced, due to landslides in refugee camps. As monsoon seasons grow increasingly perilous, concerns are mounting about the government’s refusal to permit permanent housing constructions within the camp areas. According to Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, this refusal aggravates the situation, turning avoidable incidents into fatal disasters. More details about these concerns are highlighted in a recent report.
The refugee settlements in Cox’s Bazar have faced 286 weather-related incidents between July 4 and July 9 alone, according to the Rohingya Coordination Platform. This includes significant instances of landslides, which have destroyed facilities and displaced thousands. The platform emphasizes the need for urgent international assistance in projects that focus on drainage systems, slope stabilization, and enhanced technical capacity for humanitarian intervention during the monsoon period.
Funding has emerged as a crucial barrier to effective aid. Despite a plan developed in 2025 to transition a number of shelters to more durable structures, recent funding cuts have significantly undermined these efforts. Ganguly insists that there needs to be an “urgent and effective response” from the international community to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.
The Rohingya, who have faced decades of persecution in Myanmar, continue to live under dire conditions in Bangladesh. The living conditions within the camps are precarious, characterized by temporary bamboo and tarp shelters on steep, deforested hillsides prone to climatic disasters. This precariousness is compounded by restrictions that prevent the establishment of more permanent and safer living arrangements.
The persistent vulnerability of the refugee population has been a focus of concern for the UN Human Rights Council, which has frequently warned of severe risks of death and injury due to weather-related events such as cyclones, floods, and landslides. The international focus remains imperative, as the broader political scenario is still fraught with challenges. The struggle to provide basic services, education, and necessary health care continues, rendering these refugee camps perpetually at risk.