**Title: Landslides in Bangladesh Refugee Camps Claim Nine Lives, Including Eight Rohingya**
**Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh** – Heavy monsoon rains have led to devastating landslides in southeastern Bangladesh, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals, including eight Rohingya refugees. The tragic incidents occurred in Cox's Bazar, a region that hosts the world's largest refugee settlement, where over a million Rohingya have sought refuge since fleeing Myanmar in 2017.
The landslides struck at four different locations within the refugee camps between late Sunday and early Monday morning, burying makeshift shelters under mud and debris while families were asleep. Rescuers managed to recover seven bodies, while the eighth was located by fellow refugees. Among the deceased is a Bangladeshi man who was killed when a hillside collapsed onto his home.
Ali Ahmed, a Rohingya refugee, shared his heartbreak as he recounted the loss of his parents and younger brother in the disaster. "We fled Myanmar in 2017 to escape persecution. Now I’ve lost my family here too, and I don’t know what lies ahead for me," he told reporters.
The makeshift homes in the refugee camps are primarily constructed from bamboo and plastic sheets, and are situated on steep, deforested hillsides that are particularly vulnerable to landslides and flooding during the annual monsoon season. The United Nations Refugee Agency reported that 36 refugees have died in similar landslides from 2021 to 2026.
In response to the ongoing risk, Bangladeshi authorities have relocated approximately 1,000 refugees from the most vulnerable areas and are planning to move several thousand more to safer locations. The meteorological department has warned of additional heavy rainfall in the coming days, raising concerns about further landslides.
The situation is compounded by renewed fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine state between the military and the Arakan Army, which has led to fears that more individuals may attempt to flee into Bangladesh. In light of these developments, Bangladeshi authorities are enhancing monitoring efforts along the border amid reports of increased gatherings near the frontier.
As the monsoon season continues, the plight of the Rohingya refugees remains precarious, with ongoing challenges related to safety, shelter, and the threat of further natural disasters.