While the Rohingyas residing in the camps in Cox’s Bazar were badly hit by recent floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains, their fellow countrymen from Myanmar who have been relocated to Bhashan Char Island remained unscathed, according to government officials concerned.
This has been possible due to the strong structure of the houses in Bhashan Char, in the Noakhali district, where Rohingyas were relocated, the office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief told Dhaka Tribune.
The RRRC based in Cox’s Bazar is the top entity of the Bangladesh government with respect to dealing with the Rohingya crisis.
“No, we have not been affected at all by the monsoon,” Additional RRRC Mohammed Moazzam Hossain told this correspondent from Bhashan Char on Sunday evening.
“The shelters in Cox’s Bazar were made of bamboos and tarpaulins. On the other hand, Rohingyas in Bhashan Char have been housed in strongly-structured buildings,” he said.
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“The concrete houses in Bhashan Char are way stronger than those in Cox’s Bazar,” Assistant RRRC Shamima Akter Jahan said from Cox’s Bazar.
A journalist, who recently visited Bhashan Char, echoed the RRRC officials.
“The houses built for Rohingyas are sturdy, and those were constructed on high ground,” said Lakmina Jesmin Soma, a journalist from private television channel News24.
“I don’t think the monsoon has created or will create any problem to the residents of the island,” she added.
Reconstruction, rehabilitation going on in Cox’s Bazar camps
The reconstruction of the damaged shelters at the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and the rehabilitation of the Rohingyas are in progress, said the RRRC officials.
Also Read - Thousands displaced as floods hit Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps
Heavy monsoon rains and strong winds recently pelted massive sites in the camps, causing flash floods and landslides.
At least six Rohingyas died, more than 12,000 Rohingyas were affected while an estimated 2,500 shelters were damaged or destroyed, according to multiple reports.
The situation in the Rohingya camps is now under control, with most of the displaced residents returning to their homes and the damaged houses being reconstructed, according to Assistant RRRC Shamima Akter Jahan and two camps-in-charge.
“There is no more water in the camps and no landslides. Immediately after the recession of water, we started to reconstruct the houses. And most of the people who were housed in temporary accommodations returned to their homes,” said Jahan.
