'Arson' destroys four UNICEF schools in Rohingya camps

FRANCH 24

Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) (AFP)
19/01/2021

 

UNICEF runs some 2,500 learning centres in the 34 refugee camps in Bangladesh's southeastern border district of Cox's Bazar - AFP

 

Four UNICEF schools for Rohingya children in refugee camps in Bangladesh have been destroyed in a fire, officials said Tuesday, with the UN children's agency calling it arson.

It was unclear who might attack the schools, which were empty at the time, but the security situation in the camps housing around a million people has worsened in recent months.

Bangladesh: Fire damages 673 shanties in Rohingya camp

AA
Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh 

12.05.2020

UN refugee agency will repair damaged makeshift houses immediately, says refugee commissioner 

More than 670 makeshift dwellings for Rohingya refugees in a camp across Bangladesh's southern district of Cox's Bazar were damaged in a fire on Tuesday morning, according to officials."We've been confirmed about the fire incident and are now assessing the extent of damages officially," Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mahbub Alam Talukder told Anadolu Agency.

No casualties were reported so far, he said. "The UNHCR [UN refugee agency] will repair the damaged tents soon."

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, UNHCR communication officer in Bangladesh Louise Donovan said that a total of 312 shelters were destroyed, with 362 more partially damaged, as well as small shops and businesses.