Bangladesh: A safer place to live: stronger shelters protect Rohingya families in Cox's Bazar | IFRC

Country: Bangladesh Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies "Not a permanent home, but a safer place to live." Written by Abu Taleb Md Saqib, Senior Communications Officer, Cox’s Bazar Sub-Delegation, IFRC As monsoon rain battered Cox's Bazar this year, more than 5,500 shelters across Cox’s Bazar camps were damaged by rainwater, strong winds and landslides. Families were once again forced to repair homes, relocate to safer areas or seek temporary refuge. Yet among the affected shelters, none of the stronger Temporary Safer Shelters (TSS) supported by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the IFRC sustained significant damage. This offered a glimpse of what is possible in one of the world's largest and most disaster-prone settlements, where more than one million Rohingya people continue to face overlapping risks from fire, flooding, storms and landslides. Nearly nine years after the mass displacement of Rohingya people into Bangladesh in August 2017, safer shelter remains one of the community's most urgent needs. For Bashir Ahmod, 36, and his wife Rabeya Basri, 30, moving into a Temporary Safer Shelter with their two children in November 2025 brought a sense of relief after years of uncertainty. Having fled their home in Rakhine State, Myanmar, they had spent years living with insecurity in the camps. "Now, we can sleep without being scared," said Bashir. His wife Rabeya added: "This shelter has given my children a safer place to live and I feel more protected." A new approach to safer shelters The idea for the Temporary Safer Shelter did not emerge overnight. Since 2017, Rohingya families have lived in bamboo shelters across 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar. Many were upgraded in 2021 to Midterm Shelters using treated bamboo, metal footings and tarpaulin, but these structures require frequent repairs, which not only increase humanitarian operational costs but also pose safety risks to residents. As Cox’s Bazar is a high-risk area for multiple natural hazards, these shelters are constantly exposed to heavy rain, strong winds and recurring fires, making them even more vulnerable. The Temporary Safer Shelter was developed following a series of disasters in the camps, including a major fire in Camp 11 in 2023 that destroyed 3,000 shelters within hours. It followed an earlier fire in 2021 that devastated large parts of Camps 9, 10 and 8 west. Recurring disasters in the camps highlighted the need for a shelter that could remain temporary, in line with government regulations, while providing greater safety, durability and dignity. Following the fire, BDRCS and IFRC worked with partners to develop an improved shelter design, which was approved by the Shelter Cluster and the Government of Bangladesh in September 2025. So far, 280 temporary safer shelters have been built. "As its name suggests, the Temporary Safer Shelter is not a permanent home, but a safer place to live," said Urmi Das, Shelter and Settlement Manager with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society's Population Movement Operation project in Cox's Bazar. "The development of Temporary Safer Shelters is a breakthrough for us. While they are temporary structures, the improved design significantly reduces the risks posed by different hazards. Fully compliant with government regulations, they are designed to help families stay safer and maintain their dignity, even in the most difficult conditions." The shelters continue to use materials that are familiar and readily available in the camps. Bamboo remains the primary building material and is strengthened with materials such as cement, rice straw and clay, making the shelters more durable and better able to withstand harsh weather conditions. The recent monsoon season served as a real test of the design. Despite widespread shelter damage across the camps, the Temporary Safer Shelters withstood the heavy rains and strong winds, demonstrating their potential to provide greater safety and peace of mind for refugee families. Built by the community A key feature of the project is community involvement. Camp residents are not just recipients of assistance; they are involved throughout the entire process, from start to completion. They work alongside trained community members to build their shelters and are paid for their contributions. This approach helps them learn how to care for their shelters and foster a stronger sense of ownership. While funding constraints mean that only a limited number of shelters have been built so far, BDRCS and IFRC continue to prioritize families living in the most vulnerable conditions. As the Rohingya crisis enters its ninth year and returns remain unsafe, camp residents like Bashir and Rabeya are not asking for much – only a temporary place to live with less fear, even in uncertain times. Their story is a reminder that humanitarian action is not only about responding to emergencies. It is also about helping people live more safely, with dignity and hope, even when a crisis lasts far longer than anyone imagined.
2026-08-26 05:33:07