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Monday's blaze left 339 missing, according to the United
Nations, with tens of thousands left without shelter in the
world's largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazar district, where more
than a million Rohingya live after fleeing persecution in their
native Myanmar.
On Thursday, families left homeless by the fire built shelters
using tarpaulin, ropes and bamboo provided by aid groups.
With critical infrastructure including medical facilities and
sanitation systems destroyed, fears are rising about the spread
of disease.
"We have to act quickly to rebuild not only homes, but the
entire infrastructure of damaged areas," said Snigdha
Chakraborty, Bangladesh country manager of aid agency Catholic
Relief Services.
"Rebuilding latrines, wells and bathing spaces is crucial to
saving lives and preventing disease.
Despite the efforts, many were still without shelter four days
on from the fire, in rising heat and humidity.
"Everything has gone," said Mohammed Salam, a 50-year-old
refugee. "I, my wife and my six sons, are still sleeping under
the sky. I hope I'll get a tent today."
The blaze is the latest trauma for many of the refugees, who
fled from their homes in western Myanmar when the military there
launched an offensive against Rohingya insurgents in 2017.
Citing the overcrowding in the camps thrown up across deforested
hills, Bangladesh has been trying to move 100,000 Rohingya to a
remote, flood-prone Bay of Bengal island, despite opposition
from aid groups and the reluctance of many Rohingya.
(Reporting by Ruma Paul in Cox's Bazar; Writing by Alasdair Pal;
Editing by Kim Coghill)
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