Two separate fire incidents at Rohingya camps in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar have burned several houses and a hospital, triggering panic among refugees.
The first fire broke out around 5am on Friday at a hospital in Block D of the Madhurchhara Camp 4 Rohingya camp under Rajapalong union. After about two and a half hours of joint efforts by the Fire Service and local residents, the blaze was brought under control around 7:30am.
Although no casualties were reported, the hospital was completely destroyed. A large amount of medical equipment and medicines was damaged in the fire.
The facility, named Obat Health Post, was established by US-based charity Obat Helpers USA for Rohingya refugees displaced from Myanmar in August 2017. It is currently operated by Obat Helpers Bangladesh with funding from the international organisation Human International USA and support from the camp administration.
Obat Health Coordinator Mahamudul Hasan Siddiqui Rashed said the entire hospital was destroyed in the sudden fire, adding that the cause of the blaze had not yet been confirmed. He said the health post had been providing free healthcare services to Rohingya refugees and local residents.
Ukhia Fire Service Station Officer Dollar Tripura said one Fire Service unit worked at the scene and no casualties were reported.
Earlier, around 10pm on Thursday, another fire broke out in Block B of the Kutupalong Rohingya camp, about four kilometres from the Madhurchhara camp. At least five houses were burned in that incident.
The camp’s Emergency Fire Response Unit, with assistance from local residents and Rohingya refugees, began firefighting efforts immediately. After about one and a half hours, the fire was brought under control around 11:40pm.
The sudden fires spread panic and anxiety across the camps. Rohingya refugee Amanullah, an eyewitness, said he did not know how the fire started in a house in Block B, adding that his family rushed out of their home to save their lives as the flames spread.
Earlier, on 24 December last year, a fire at the Kutupalong One W Rohingya camp burned more than a thousand houses and claimed one life.
