Tragic Landslide Hits School in Cox's Bazar
A devastating landslide has resulted in the deaths of seven students and a teacher at a girls' school located within a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon as heavy monsoon rains continued to batter the region.
The school, which functions as an Islamic study center, was engulfed by mud and debris during the landslide, prompting urgent search and rescue operations. Although the exact number of individuals present in the school at the time remains unclear, rescuers managed to pull 13 people from the debris. Tragically, eight of these individuals did not survive, according to Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner.
Young Lives Lost
Panna Akhter, a local district officer, relayed to BBC Bangla that the victims included children aged between seven and twelve years. Five other children were rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The region of Cox's Bazar, which hosts over a million Rohingya refugees, has been severely affected by the ongoing monsoon rains. The Rohingya population, having fled violence in Myanmar, resides in what is considered the world's largest refugee settlement. Since Sunday, the area has experienced several deadly landslides. In addition to the school tragedy, other landslides in the region have claimed the lives of at least eight Rohingya refugees, including five children.
Challenges Faced by Rohingya Refugees
The Rohingya, an ethnic minority group from Myanmar, have faced significant adversity. Following a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh. The group, primarily Muslim, is denied citizenship in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, leading to precarious living conditions in Bangladesh. Many reside in makeshift shelters made of tarpaulin and bamboo, often situated on steep, unstable hillsides.
Continued Weather Warnings
With more rainfall anticipated in the coming days, authorities have issued warnings for additional landslides and potential flooding. Efforts are underway to evacuate families from high-risk areas to mitigate further tragedies.
Source: Original Article
