A fire in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp displaced over 2,000 people, prompting the Norwegian Refugee Council to call for more funding. Photo: AP News.
A large fire has destroyed hundreds of shelters in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. More than 2,000 people were displaced, aid agencies said. No casualties has been reported.
The fire broke out early Tuesday in Camp 16. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after about three hours.
The Norwegian Refugee Council said many families lost homes, belongings, and identity papers. The UN’s International Organization for Migration warned fires increase protection risks in crowded camps.
Aid groups said 335 shelters were destroyed and 72 were damaged. They also reported damage to water points, sanitation sites, and learning centres.
The Norwegian Refugee Council said plans for 50,000 semi-permanent shelters were shelved after international aid cuts announced in January 2025. It said a 2025 funding gap of 466.6$ million has limited safer housing and emergency support.