A devastating fire at the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya

A significant fire broke out in one of the Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya Upazila, Cox’s Bazar, destroying multiple structures including a learning centre. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, 20 January, at around 3:00 am in Camp 16, located in the Shafiullah Katta area of Palongkhali Union.

Local sources and the Fire Service reported that the fire spread rapidly, prompting joint efforts by the Fire Service and local residents to contain the blaze. Despite initial containment, the fire reignited in certain areas, complicating efforts to control the situation.

Dollar Tripura, Station Officer of the Ukhiya Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed the incident, stating, “Upon receiving the alert, two fire units immediately reached the site and began operations to control the fire. Our teams are fully committed to containing it as quickly as possible.” He further emphasised that no casualties have been reported to date, and law enforcement personnel are actively assisting in both fire suppression and crowd management.

This latest fire follows a series of similar incidents in the region. On 26 December, a hospital in Camp 4 was completely destroyed in a morning blaze. The previous night, on 25 December, a fire in the registered Kutupalong Rohingya Camp damaged more than ten shelters, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of these densely populated settlements to accidental or deliberate fires.

Authorities continue to investigate the causes of these frequent fires, while humanitarian agencies express concern over the repeated destruction of essential facilities, which hampers access to healthcare, education, and shelter for thousands of refugees.

The following table summarises the recent major fire incidents in Ukhiya and Kutupalong camps:

Officials urge camp residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with fire prevention measures. Meanwhile, emergency response teams remain on high alert to respond to any further incidents in the overcrowded camps.