Ensuring Safe Drinking Water in Rohingya Camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Nov 4, 2019 | Dr. Zahid Hayat Mahmud
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Since August 2017, around one million Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh following a wave of targeted violence in the neighboring Rakhine State of Myanmar. Most of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas settled in a series of camps in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas(sub-districts) of Cox’s Bazar. The need for humanitarian assistance, including shelter, safe water, food, and sanitation, has been tremendous and increasing day by day.

Collectively, a total of 6,057 water points and 50,087 emergency latrines have been built to support the needs of the camp’s inhabitants. But in the hilly terrain of Cox’s Bazar, the large influx of Rohingyas gathering at an unplanned and unprompted settlement has created an unprecedented challenge in meeting water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs.