Rohingya emergency health center burned down in mysterious fire in Ukhiya

Local correspondent

Two mysterious fires broke out overnight in a Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhia Upazila of Cox’s Bazar, completely destroying an emergency healthcare center and damaging several homes.

A fire broke out at a health center located in D-Block of Rohingya Camp No. 4 in Madhurchhara area of ​​Rajapalong Union, Ukhia, early on Friday, December 26. The fire was brought under control around 7:30 am with the combined efforts of the fire service and locals.

No casualties were reported in the incident, but locals believe that miscreants set the health center on fire.

The center, named ‘Obat Health Post’, was established by the charitable organization ‘Obat Helpers USA’ in 2017 to provide medical services to Rohingya displaced from Myanmar. It was currently being operated with the support of the camp administration and funding from Humane International USAA.

However, the entire health center was burned down in a sudden fire, said Dr. Mahamudul Hasan Siddique Rashed, Health Coordinator of Obat Helpers Bangladesh.

It is learnt that the Rohingya and local people used to receive free medical services from this health centre in a remote area. The burning of this health centre, known to locals as the ‘Malaysia Hospital’, has raised deep concerns among the Rohingya.

Camp resident Mohammad Rafiq said, “This hospital was our biggest hope for medical treatment. I feel like someone burned it down.”

It is initially estimated that the damage caused by the fire could exceed crores of taka.

Ukhia Fire Service Station Officer Dollar Tripura said a unit participated in extinguishing the fire. However, we are still not sure how the fire started.

Earlier, on Thursday, December 25, at around 10 pm, another fire broke out in the B-block of the Kutupalong registered Rohingya camp. At least five houses were burnt down. There is panic over the frequent occurrence of such fires.