BRAC is responding urgently following a devastating fire that broke out in Camp 16, one of the Rohingya refugee camp sections in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The fire began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, spreading rapidly among the shelters, most of which were constructed with bamboo The fire has left 2,185 people displaced, many of whom were already living in extremely vulnerable conditions.
The fire began at approximately 03:00 local time on 20 January 2026, affecting three blocks of shelters. Community members, volunteers, and the Fire Service and Civil Defence worked for two hours to extinguish the blaze. No fatalities were reported, but five people sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment.
Initial assessments show that 369 shelters were fully destroyed, 112 were partially damaged, and 74 shelters were dismantled. All affected families have temporarily taken shelter with friends or relatives within the camp, increasing pressure on already overcrowded living conditions. The fire also caused damage to WASH facilities, learning centres and site infrastructure, raising concerns about health, safety and access to essential services.
Additionally, the blaze claimed 11 learning centres, including seven that BRAC operates, two mosques, and adult learning centres. The blaze also impacted critical community services, including 86 bathrooms, 68 bathing cubicles, 11 water points, and one water network.
BRAC is supporting families with emergency assistance and coordinating with partners to restore shelters, water and sanitation facilities and essential services.
Staff are providing mental health support to individuals experiencing psychological distress, delivering primary health care to those who have been injured, and safely transporting burned waste from the camps to designated landfill sites. In addition, BRAC field workers are visiting Rohingya households to assess the situation and ensure affected community members receive necessary support.
You can support BRAC’s emergency response by donating to our fundraiser. We aim to raise $200,000 to help displaced families meet their immediate needs and begin recovery. For media enquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact Manal Ameer at manal.ameer@braceurope.org or call +44 7598879670.