On the afternoon of March 5, 2023, a massive and devastating fire broke out in Camp 11 of the Kutupalong Balukhali refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The camp is managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The fire raged for approximately three hours before the Rohingya refugee Safety Unit Volunteers trained on firefighting, local firefighters, and local authorities managed to contain it around 5 pm. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported yet.

Impact

The fire has displaced approximately 12,000 refugees, which is a significant number considering the total population of Camp 11 is 32,200. Over 2,000 shelters have been destroyed or damaged, and over 90 facilities, including hospitals and learning centers, have also been damaged.