6 July 2026
Rohingya Youth Development Association (RYDA)
Research and Documentation Unit

Heavy monsoon rains have once again exposed the extreme vulnerability of Rohingya refugees living in the camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. During the first week of July 2026, a series of landslides and a drowning incident claimed the lives of at least eleven Rohingya refugees, including women and young children. Several others were injured or displaced.

Based on information documented by the Rohingya Youth Development Association (RYDA), four separate incidents occurred across different camps, highlighting the continued risks posed by unstable hillsides, inadequate shelter, and limited disaster preparedness during the monsoon season.

The deadliest incident occurred at Jamtoli Camp 15, Block D06, at approximately 1:30 a.m., when a landslide buried a family shelter. Kamal Hossin (45), his wife Humair Begum (35), and their three-year-old son Md. Anos lost their lives. Their four-year-old daughter, Noor Hafiza, survived with injuries. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided protection support to the affected family following the incident.

Another devastating landslide struck Camp 11, Block C2, at approximately the same time. The affected family had recently arrived in the refugee camps and was registered under Camp 12. Because they had not yet received an allocated shelter, they were living with relatives in a high-risk area. The disaster claimed the lives of Omme Habiba (27), her five-year-old son Md. Raihan, her three-year-old son Harun Roshid, and her thirteen-year-old daughter Tamzia Akter. One fifteen-year-old girl survived and was safely evacuated to a nearby shelter.

In Camp 7, Block D05, another landslide occurred at approximately 12:23 a.m. on 6 July. Four members of one family were caught in the collapse, with eight-year-old Mohammed Akaram becoming completely buried beneath the soil. Family members and neighbors spent nearly thirty minutes digging him out before he was transported to Kutupalong MSF Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1:50 a.m. According to the surviving family members, no warning or evacuation notification was received before the landslide occurred.

A separate tragedy was reported on 5 July at Camp 4 Extension, where a newly arrived Rohingya child drowned in a stream within the camp. The incident demonstrates the additional risks faced by newly arrived refugees who are unfamiliar with the camp environment and its hazards.

These incidents reveal several recurring humanitarian concerns. Children continue to represent the majority of the victims during weather-related disasters. Newly arrived families remain especially vulnerable because many are unable to access safe shelter immediately after arrival and are forced to stay in dangerous locations. The documentation also indicates persistent risks associated with settlements constructed on unstable slopes and, in at least one case, the apparent absence of an effective early warning before the disaster struck.

RYDA urges humanitarian agencies, camp authorities, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen early warning systems, accelerate the relocation of families living in high-risk areas, improve shelter allocation for newly arrived refugees, reinforce slope stabilization and drainage infrastructure, and expand community awareness on disaster preparedness. Emergency rescue capacity should also be strengthened to ensure timely response during future monsoon emergencies.

While these measures are essential to reduce immediate risks, they cannot replace a durable solution. The Rohingya refugee crisis can only be resolved through the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya people to their homeland in Myanmar, where their rights, citizenship, and security are fully guaranteed.

The Rohingya Youth Development Association (RYDA) will continue to monitor and document humanitarian conditions within the refugee camps and advocate for the protection, safety, and rights of the Rohingya community.