Overview
At 1:00 am on 7 January 2024, a massive and devastating fire broke out in Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Flames blazed for over three hours in Camp 5, a UNHCR managed camp, until Rohingya refugee safety unit volunteers (SUVs) trained on firefighting, local fire fighters and local authorities managed to contain the fire. 26 three-wheeler mobile firefighting units (MFFUs), provided by UNHCR, were deployed from different camps to the hilly, difficult-to-reach area. IOM was on standby with 18 additional MFFUs. The fire response was challenged by strong winds, scarcity of water in the dry season (the fire hydrants were soon depleted and many adjacent ponds were dry), access issues due to the lack of a road network in the hills, and resistance from households in affected blocks to break their shelters to create fire breaks. The fire spread through blocks A, B, C and D in Camp 5, and was stopped by fire breaks or open corridors between the camps before it could spread into Camps 6 and 8W. No casualties have been reported, and 97 people (34 women) received comprehensive medical treatment for superficial first-degree burns or minor cuts.
According to preliminary assessment:
• Over 5,000 refugees were displaced by the fire and relocated to various camps. A tracker has been activated in coordination with SCCM sector to ensure identification and provision of necessary support to people affected by the fire.
• 842 shelters were affected, including 749 shelters totally destroyed by the fire and 93 partially destroyed.
• 33 communal facilities were damaged including health facilities, learning centres, mosques and a mobile firefighting unit hub.
• 213 WASH facilities (mostly latrines, bathing cubicles and hand washing stations) were damaged. No major damage was reported to the water network.
• 63 solar streetlights were damaged.