Never-Ending Challenges: Rohingya Refugees Begin to Rebuild after Fire

Sona Ullah works as a humanitarian affairs officer at the Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Balukhali that was recently reopened after also being destroyed in fire. His job is to meet with fellow Rohingya in the camps to understand their needs and how Doctors Without Borders can help. “We had just decorated the shelter for my son’s wedding,” he says, standing under provisional plastic sheeting. Now, he is the one in need of support, as the fire spared neither his nor his family's living space.

Although official data reports no casualties from the fire, the impact is nonetheless devastating. The Rohingya, who fled violence in Myanmar, have been displaced once again. Since the major influx in 2017, they have been trying to adjust to the uncertainty of living in a provisional camp, under very difficult conditions, totally dependent on aid. The situation is considered temporary – permanent constructions aren't allowed in the camp, the Rohingya can't work, children do not receive formal education, and people face many other restrictions.

The resilience of the Rohingya community is remarkable. People from other parts of the camp quickly arrived to donate clothes and food, acting as first responders, Doctors Without Borders provided psychological first aid, and together with other organisations assessed the needs and are preparing a more coordinated response. It's been less than a week since another devastating fire hit Camp 11 nearby. “After Camp 5 was destroyed, people from Camp 11 came with food and clothes donations,” says Erik Engel, an Doctors Without Borders Project Coordinator.