Since 2017 Bangladesh has opened its borders to Rohingya Muslims, providing them with safety when they needed it most. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled brutal violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. In total, nearly 1 million Rohingya have found sanctuary in neighboring Bangladesh, putting a huge strain on resources. 

The first rains of the monsoon season will soon arrive in Bangladesh, and with them will come potentially deadly disease outbreaks in the Rohingya refugee camps, the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) CEO and President David Miliband warns. The danger of catastrophic impact needs to be a spur to urgent action.

David Miliband, CEO and President of the International Rescue Committee, said:

“The Bangladesh government have been strong and humane in offering sanctuary to Rohingya Muslims who have suffered terrible abuse in Myanmar. They deserve real credit and thanks.  However some of the biggest challenges lie ahead. Now is the time to double down on support, starting at the G7 meeting this week.”

“Rohingya families told me harrowing stories of persecution in Myanmar. But now they are worried about the fast-approaching monsoon season. They are afraid that their homes will be destroyed by winds and landslides, that they won’t be able to get enough clean water and food, and ultimately that their children will suffer.”

“Teams are working around the clock to get the camp ready for the upcoming monsoon season, but it is vital that the international community steps up its efforts to support the Government of Bangladesh to address the needs of refugees and host communities alike. The next four months threaten catastrophic risk for refugees perched in temporary and semi-permanent structures in camps built on recently deforested areas.”

“According to the UN one in three health facilities would be at risk damage from flooding, destruction from landslides or rendered inaccessible as waters rise. I saw for myself how the hard-won progress of functioning latrines could be washed away by flooding. If this comes to pass, then a full scale public health emergency is around the corner.”

Notes to Editors:

Experience suggests heavy rains are expected to fall for three to four months, bringing with them lashing rains that will flatten homes made from bamboo and tarpaulin. Fast-flowing rivers will form in the valleys created by the undulating terrain of the camps that are home to 680,000 recently arrived refugees as well as 200,000 more who have been there for some time. They’ll also cause landslides which we have already tragically seen take the life of a young girl. 

There is real danger that the water will quickly become contaminated as latrines overflow, compromising the drinking water supply and leading to potentially lethal disease outbreaks. This year the WHO has reported nearly 100,000 cases of acute-watery diarrhoea in the camps. This number will likely rise many times in the coming months. In addition to this there is the danger of an increase in cases of malaria and typhoid, and in turn increased rates of malnutrition in young children. WHO has warned we could see one of the world’s biggest outbreaks of hepatitis E.

The Government of Bangladesh and aid agencies are doing all they can to prepare for the impending monsoon. January saw a diphtheria outbreak sweep through the population and affect some 6,000 refugees. Whilst a comprehensive vaccination campaign has got diphtheria under control, the extreme weather will make any future disease outbreaks a lot more difficult to manage.

The International Rescue Committee has established mobile medical teams to support people in hard-to-reach areas, and to provide urgent care when disaster strikes. We are also supporting facilities that provide vital services to women and girls and will soon work through 52 sites.

Photographs and b-roll of David Miliband’s visit can be found here and are available for use.