A deadly landslide has struck a school inside a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district, killing at least eight people and raising fresh concerns about safety in one of the world’s largest refugee settlements.
The incident happened after heavy rainfall affected the hilly camp areas, where thousands of Rohingya families live in temporary shelters built on unstable slopes. Rescue workers, local authorities and humanitarian teams were deployed to search the debris and assist injured people.
According to early reports, the landslide hit a school building used by children in the refugee camp. The exact number of casualties may change as rescue work continues and officials verify information from the affected area.
Cox’s Bazar is home to more than one million Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled Myanmar after violence and military operations in 2017. Bangladesh allowed the refugees to take shelter in camps near the border, but the temporary settlements have faced repeated risks from monsoon rain, cyclones, fires and landslides.
The camps are located in a hilly region where many shelters have been built on slopes after forests were cleared to make space for refugees. During heavy rain, soil can become loose and collapse without much warning.
Landslides are especially dangerous in crowded refugee camps because homes, schools and community centres are often close together. Many structures are made from bamboo, tarpaulin sheets and lightweight materials, which cannot provide strong protection against mud, rocks and falling debris.
The latest tragedy has again highlighted the difficult living conditions faced by Rohingya refugees. Families living in the camps often have limited space, limited access to permanent housing and little control over where they are placed.
During the monsoon season, heavy rain can flood pathways, damage shelters and make it difficult for emergency teams to reach affected locations. Narrow roads and steep hills can slow rescue operations.
Bangladesh experiences monsoon rain every year, but refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar are particularly vulnerable because of their geography and population density. Humanitarian agencies regularly prepare for rain-related emergencies by strengthening slopes, building drainage systems and identifying areas at high risk.
However, extreme rainfall can still create dangerous conditions. Water can quickly enter homes, weaken soil and cause mudslides. In some cases, entire rows of shelters may be damaged.
Authorities have advised camp residents to remain alert during heavy rain and follow evacuation instructions when issued. People living near hillsides, drainage channels and low-lying areas are often considered at greater risk.
Emergency teams may move families to safer shelters if rain continues or if more landslides are expected. Schools, community centres and temporary buildings can be used as emergency shelters during severe weather.
The deaths at the school have created concern because children are among the most vulnerable people in the camps. Many Rohingya children have already faced displacement, trauma and interrupted education after fleeing Myanmar.
Education centres inside the camps provide basic learning, safety information and support for children. Damage to schools can affect not only education but also the protection of children during emergencies.
Humanitarian groups have repeatedly called for stronger infrastructure in the camps. They say improved drainage, safer housing, slope protection and better access roads are needed to reduce disaster risks.
But long-term solutions remain difficult because Bangladesh has said the camps are temporary and that Rohingya refugees should eventually return to Myanmar when conditions become safe.
Myanmar has not yet created conditions that would allow large numbers of Rohingya refugees to return safely. Many refugees say they will not go back unless they receive citizenship rights, security guarantees and protection from discrimination.
As a result, the refugee camps in Bangladesh continue to operate as long-term settlements despite being designed as temporary shelters.
The landslide comes at a time when humanitarian funding for Rohingya refugees has become a major concern. International aid agencies depend on donations from governments and global organisations to provide food, healthcare, education, clean water and emergency support.
If funding falls, camp services can be reduced. This can affect food rations, medical care, sanitation and disaster preparedness.
Bangladesh has repeatedly asked the international community to provide more support, saying that hosting such a large refugee population places pressure on local resources, land and public services.
Local communities near Cox’s Bazar have also faced challenges because of the refugee crisis. The large population increase has affected jobs, housing, forests and local markets.
Despite these pressures, Bangladesh has continued to host the Rohingya population for years. The country has received international praise for providing shelter, but officials have also said that a permanent solution is needed.
The latest landslide is likely to increase pressure on humanitarian agencies to review safety arrangements before more heavy rain arrives. Weather conditions in the region can change quickly, and authorities may need to move people away from dangerous slopes.
Disaster experts say that early warning systems are important. Residents need clear information about rainfall, landslide risk and evacuation routes. Community volunteers can also help alert families when weather conditions become dangerous.
Children, elderly people, pregnant women and people with disabilities may need special support during evacuations. In crowded camps, moving large numbers of people quickly can be difficult.
The incident also shows how climate-related disasters can affect displaced people more severely. Refugees often live in areas where housing is weak, services are limited and safe relocation options are few.
Heavy rain, floods and landslides are natural hazards, but their impact becomes much worse when people are forced to live in unsafe conditions.
Bangladesh’s disaster-management authorities are expected to continue monitoring rainfall in Cox’s Bazar. Further warnings may be issued if weather conditions worsen.
For families in the Rohingya camps, the immediate concern is safety. Many residents are likely to remain worried about more rain, unstable hillsides and possible damage to their shelters.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya community. While rescue teams work at the landslide site, the wider challenge remains: how to protect a large displaced population living in fragile conditions during increasingly severe weather events.