(MENAFN) Bangladesh authorities have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the devastating inferno that erupted in a Rohingya refugee camp on Sunday, resulting in the destruction of approximately 2,000 shelters and rendering thousands of people homeless. Reports suggest that one man, believed to be a refugee, has been detained in connection with the fire. The police are trying to determine whether or not the fire was started as an act of sabotage.
The Refugee Relief Repatriation Commissioner of Bangladesh, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, has reported that the fire has left about 12,000 Myanmar nationals homeless. The fire reportedly broke out at 2:45 pm local time and spread quickly through tarpaulin shelters, further fuelled by gas cylinders in kitchens. It is not yet clear how the fire started, and no casualties have been reported. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control after three hours.
The refugee camp, situated in the southeast of Bangladesh, is the largest of its kind, providing temporary shelter to thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Sunday that 90 facilities, including hospitals and learning centers, were destroyed in the fire. Additionally, around 35 mosques were damaged or destroyed.
The Rohingya crisis has been a long-standing issue in the region, and this latest incident highlights the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by the Rohingya refugees. The UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations have been providing essential support to the refugees, but the situation remains precarious. It is hoped that the authorities will be able to determine the cause of the fire and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, while also providing much-needed assistance to those who have been affected.
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