Save the Children, a nongovernmental organization working in the camps, reported that
the fires have affected the mental health of children living in the camps. Onno van Manen,
the Save the Children country director in Bangladesh, said, “the Rohingya refugees have
already fled their burning villages in Myanmar, only to see what little they have left go up
in flames again. This is more than any human—and certainly any child— should have to
deal with in a lifetime.” 46
The fire on March 22 was the biggest in the camps since refugees fled to Bangladesh in
2017, but the number of fires in the camps has been increasing at a disturbing rate—in just
the first four months of 2021 there were 84 fires in the camps, according to data from the
ISCG, more than in all of 2020. 47 This raises concerns that rather than implement safety
measures in the camps in Cox’s Bazar like building less flammable, more permanent
structures, adding water reservoirs, and taking down fencing, Bangladesh authorities are
making use of the fires to pressure refugees to relocate to Bhasan Char.
As of April 1, at least 497 refugees whose shelters were burned down in the March 22 blaze
had reportedly been sent to Bhasan Char. 48 Abdul Hakim, 38, who relocated along with five
members of his family, told Human Rights Watch: “After the fire burned my shelter on
March 22, a majhi (a Rohingya leader selected by the camp authorities to serve as an
intermediary between authorities and the refugee population) and some CiC office
volunteers told me that my name is on the list to relocate to Bhasan Char and I have no
option but to follow their instruction.” 49
46 Save the Children, “Rohingya Refugees Fear ‘Another Disaster Waiting to Happen’ After 84 Fires in Four Months,” April 15,
2021, https://www.savethechildren.net/news/rohingya-refugees-fear-%E2%80%98another-disaster-waitinghappen%E2%80%99-after-84-fires-four-months (accessed April 16, 2021).
47 Ibid.
48 “The 6th Transfer of Rohingyas was Delayed,” Ukiya news, April 1, 2021, https://bit.ly/3e3iSeW (accessed April 15, 2021).
49 Human Rights Watch interview with Abdul Hakim, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, March 30,
“AN ISLAND JAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA”
22
2021.