Rohingya refugee-shelters 'washed away' in Bangla-rains, over 9,000 affected: UN
Heavy rains have caused severe structural damage to camps in Bangladesh hosting over one million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, the United Nations has said. So far, more than 9,000 have been affected and the number is expected to rise as the monsoon rains, which lashed the camps for the last two days, continue, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Here's more.
Rohinya Muslims' backstory
Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar's Rakhine State to Bangladesh since August last year when the army launched a violent crackdown, resulting in a major crisis in Bangladesh.
Over 30,000 refugees living in high risk areas
More than 30,000 camp residents are still living in areas considered to be at high risk of deadly flooding and landslides, IOM said. For months now, UN agencies have been warning of the monsoon threat, which runs from June to September. The rains began on Saturday and within 24 hours of incidents including landslides, water logging, extreme wind and lightning strikes were recorded.
Nearly 1mn people living without anything to hold the ground
"You have close to 1 million people living on hilly, muddy terrain with no trees or shrubs left to hold the ground in place. People and their makeshift shelters are being washed away in the rains," Manuel Pereira, IOM's Emergency Coordinator in Cox's Bazar said.
UN and partners ensuring refugees receive basic needs assistance
IOM said it is "working against the clock" to secure road access and drainage, and to improve preparations for more heavy rains to come. The UN agency and its partners are also ensuring that the refugees continue to receive assistance such as access to water, sanitation, and health. However, it also warned that risks remain huge, given the nature of the makeshift camps.
Agreement and deals finalized for return of Rohingyas
An agreement signed last week between the Myanmar Government and UN agencies is expected to pave the way for scores of Rohingya to return home. It will also allow UNHCR and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to access the Rakhine state. A deal between Myanmar and Bangladesh was finalized, which has set a two-year deadline for the reparation of the Rohingyas.
