Over 3,000 Rohingya refugees of a camp at Nayapara in Bangladesh were rendered homeless after more than 500 huts were destroyed due to fire.
Bangladesh’s refugee commissioner Rezwan Hayat told media persons that there was no report of any death but at least 10 people were injured in the fire incident.
Hayat informed that the incident took place at around 2 am at the Nayapara camp, refugee commissioner Rezwan Hayat said.
Nayapara in southeast Bangladesh is home to tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees, who are originally from Myanmar, including many others who have been living there since the 1990s.
A fire broke out last night in Nayapara Camp
Volunteers and refugees were the first responders, then the fire dept. rushed in
Coordinated response ongoing w/ partners and authorities
0 casualty. Over 550 refugee shelters, 150 shops damaged. pic.twitter.com/VngtFQZI4L
— UNHCR in Bangladesh (@UNHCR_BGD) January 14, 2021
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said over 550 shelters – home to about 3,500 people – were either totally or partially destroyed in the blaze, besides 150 shops and a facility belonging to a non-profit organization.
Refugee commissioner Hayat informed that the huts were made of tin and bamboo.
“We have immediately supplied hot food and bamboo and tarpaulins to the affected people to reconstruct their homes,” Hayat said.
He also informed that a cooking gas cylinder was suspected to be the cause.
UNHCR said it was providing shelter, materials, winter clothes, hot meals, and medical care for the refugees displaced from the camp in the Cox’s Bazar district.