1.0 Overview

Action Against Rohingya Atrocities (AARA) documented a series of deadly landslides and related disasters that struck the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, between 5 and 8 July 2026. During this four-day period, five major incidents resulted in 14 confirmed fatalities, including numerous children, while six others sustained serious injuries requiring medical treatment.

The deadliest incident occurred on 8 July 2026 in Camp-05, where a catastrophic landslide struck a Mahila Hafiz Khana (Female Quran Memorization Centre), causing the deaths of eight students and injuring six others. Additional fatal landslides occurred in Camp-15 (Jamtoli), Camp-11 (Balukhali-02), and Camp-07, while a separate incident involving the drowning of a newly arrived child was documented in Camp-04 Extension.

These incidents reveal persistent protection failures arising from unstable terrain, overcrowded settlements, inadequate shelter allocation, weak early warning mechanisms, and insufficient disaster preparedness. Collectively, they demonstrate the urgent need for strengthened disaster risk reduction measures and enhanced protection for the Rohingya refugee population.

2.0 Incident Documentation

2.1 Incident One: Fatal Landslide at Camp-05

Fatalities

• Deaths at the scene: 04 students
• Deaths in hospitals: 04 students

Hospital Deaths

• GK Hospital (Camp-03): 02
• IRC Hospital (Camp-06): 01
• Friendship Hospital (Camp-05): 01

Patients Receiving Treatment

• IOM Hospital (Camp-03): 03
• IRC Hospital (Camp-06): 02
• IOM Hospital (Camp-02 West): 01

Additional Information

A Mahila Hafiz Khana (Female Quran Memorization Centre) is situated adjacent to the affected area. The institution accommodates approximately 150 students and seven Hafez teachers.

At the time of the landslide, the remaining students had returned to their shelters for lunch. As a result, they escaped injury, preventing what could have been a significantly larger humanitarian tragedy.

Confirmed Deceased Girls

Date: 08 July 2026

Location: Block A, Sub-block A-03

Camp: 05

Note: The original source records "174998" as Shahida's age. This appears to be a data-entry error and has been reproduced exactly as received to preserve documentary accuracy.

2.2 Incident Two: Multiple Fatalities at Jamtoli (Camp-15)

Casualties

Response

Male

Community members and humanitarian volunteers provided emergency assistance and protection support to the surviving members of the affected family.

2.3 Incident Three: Death of a Family at Balukhali-02 (Camp-11)

Household Background

The affected household was a newly arrived Rohingya family registered under Camp-12. Owing to the absence of allocated shelter, the family was temporarily residing with relatives in a high-risk landslide-prone area.

Fatalities

Survivor

One 15-year-old girl survived the incident and was evacuated to a nearby shelter.

2.4 Incident Four: Death of an Eight-Year-Old Child at Camp-07 (Near TV Tower)

Victim

Timeline

• 12:23 AM: Landslide occurred.
• 12:53 AM: Child recovered after approximately 30 minutes of rescue efforts.
• 1:50 AM: Child was pronounced dead at Kutupalong MSF Hospital.

Key Observation

The family reported that no early warning or evacuation notification was issued before the landslide occurred.

2.5 Incident Five: Drowning of a Newly Arrived Child

Summary

A newly arrived Rohingya child drowned in a nearby stream. The incident highlights the heightened vulnerability of newly arrived refugee families who are unfamiliar with the camp environment, waterways, and seasonal hazards.

3.0 Key Findings

AARA documented the following principal findings:

• Five separate fatal incidents occurred between 5 and 8 July 2026.
• Fourteen people were killed, while six others were injured.
• Camp-05 alone accounted for eight deaths (57% of all fatalities).
• Children constituted the majority of those killed.
• One female teacher also lost her life during the Camp-05 landslide.
• Entire families were destroyed, including four members in Camp-11 and three members in Camp-15.
• Families residing in high-risk areas due to inadequate shelter allocation faced significantly greater danger.
• No early warning system was reported in at least one documented incident (Camp-07).
• Medical referrals were distributed across several hospitals, demonstrating the need for stronger emergency coordination.
• The Camp-05 landslide narrowly avoided an even greater catastrophe, as approximately 150 students and seven teachers had left the nearby Mahila Hafiz Khana shortly before the landslide occurred.

4.0 Recommendations

5.0 Summary Statistics

Conclusion

People Injured

The incidents documented in this report demonstrate that the deaths of 14 Rohingya refugees, including numerous children, were not isolated tragedies but occurred within a context of persistent exposure to preventable disaster risks. The recurring loss of life, destruction of entire families, and documented failures in early warning and disaster preparedness underscore the urgent need for stronger protection measures across the Rohingya refugee camps.

Action Against Rohingya Atrocities (AARA) calls upon the Government of Bangladesh, United Nations agencies, humanitarian organizations, donors, and the international community to urgently strengthen disaster preparedness, improve protection mechanisms, enhance emergency response capacity, and ensure that vulnerable refugee families are relocated from high-risk areas to prevent further avoidable loss of life.

Report Prepared by

Action Against Rohingya Atrocities (AARA)