Politics

6 Rohingyas dead due to heavy rain, landslides in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Jul 27 (EFE).- At least six Rohingya people died as a result of heavy rains in the battered refugee camps of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday, according to official sources.

Five people were killed in a landslide while another two were injured, and one person died due to drowning.

Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shah Rezwan Hayat told EFE that around 11 am, a part of a hill collapsed near camp-10 in Balukhali area of the district.

“It has been raining heavy here since last night. Five Rohingyas died in landslides and two others were injured. Our people have continued their rescue works,” he said.

Deputy Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shamsuddoha confirmed another person drowned during the downpour.

Aid workers have often warned against landslides and waterlogging in Rohingya camps, located in southeastern Bangladesh.

Earlier this month, the United Nations agency International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it was assessing the risk of landslides, while also strengthening drainage networks, installing slope protection measures and upgrading key pathways in the region.

IOM and its implementing partners have also trained and equipped 10 mobile medical teams and 350 community health workers to act as first responders, while 11 ambulances have been kept ready.

Around 738,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, 2017, following a military campaign in response to an alleged attack by a Rohingya insurgent group against checkposts of the security forces. EFE

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