Balukhali camp fire: Removing debris, Rohingyas start rebuilding homes

Rohingyas have started rebuilding homes as Monday's fire burned thousands of their shanties at Balukhali refugee camp in Ukhiya of Cox's Bazar that also left 11 people dead and hundreds injured.

Around 10,000 homes were razed to the ground as the fire engulfed four camps in the world's largest refugee camp.

Today, this correspondent took a walk through the charred alleys that are filled with bamboo, tarpaulin, and other materials needed to construct makeshift shelters.

Photo: Mostafa Yousuf

Hundreds of Rohingyas were seen removing the debris of burnt shanties to construct their new houses.

Talking to The Daily Star, Rohmot Ali, a resident of the C-8 block in camp-9, said he, along with his family, passed the night in the open field as he lost everything in the fire.

"This morning, I received bamboo and tarpaulin from an NGO. I hope by evening, I will be able to build my makeshift shelter with this," he said.

The blaze was still visible at various parts of the camp. Rohingya women and children were also seen participating in rebuilding work.

"Due to recurring displacement, we learned how to build makeshift homes swiftly," Abdul Barek, another Rohingya man from the same block, told The Daily Star.

Different local and international NGOs working for the Rohingya refugees are supplying construction materials like bamboo, rope, polythene, and corrugated tin sheets for rebuilding the shanties.

The work is going on under the supervision of the camp in-charge, said Additional Refugee, Relief, and Rehabilitation Commissioner Md Samsuddouza.

Besides, UNHCR and IOM are distributing tents among the affected families.  

Our Cox's Bazar correspondent also contributed to this report.