The UN Refugee Agency says it is assessing the damage to the world’s largest refugee camp, Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, after Cyclone Mocha hit yesterday as a category five storm.
Australia for UNHCR CEO Trudi Mitchell was recently in Cox’s Bazar and said almost a million refugees live in flimsy bamboo shelters in the area.
“This is obviously a terrible situation for Rohingya refugees, who have huge humanitarian needs and live in basic shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulins,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Thankfully, a timely evacuation of at-risk people to communal shelters in the camps helped save lives. UNHCR is now assessing the extent of the damage, including how many shelters have been destroyed,” Ms Mitchell said.
In addition to the refugees in Cox’s Bazar, there are some 30,000 Rohingya on the island of Basan Char in the Gulf of Bengal. They were moved into cyclone-resistant shelters before the category five storm hit.
The UN Refugee Agency is now assessing who needs food and shelter kits to repair their homes. The agency also has mobile medical teams on the ground.
UNHCR has prepositioned 230 tonnes of dry food as well as tonnes of fortified biscuits – and aid agencies are preparing to provide 50,000 hot meals a day, if needed.
The agency has shelter materials such as tarpaulins, rope, and floor mats along with 11 million aqua tabs (water purification tablets), 60,000 jerry cans, and 300,000 bars of soap.
UNHCR says it will continue to work with the Bangladeshi authorities, humanitarian partners and refugee volunteers to help those most in need.
Australia for UNHCR is calling for urgent support from Australians for refugees in Bangladesh affected by the cyclone. UNHCR’s budget in Bangladesh remains 58% underfunded.
