Kutupalong refugee camp

Many people live in a big camp.

It is in a land called Bangladesh.

People called the Rohingya fled their homes. They came to be safe. This camp is now the largest in the world.

Many groups work to help the people. They provide food and care. The camp is on steep hills. This can cause floods when it rains.

Some large animals live nearby too. Wild elephants walk through the area. Teams of people help keep everyone safe.

It is a very busy and large place.

The Kutupalong refugee camp is in Bangladesh. It is the largest refugee camp in the world. Most people there are Rohingya. They fled Myanmar to find safety.

The camp began in 1991. Many more people arrived in 2017. This was after many attacks in Myanmar. The people of Bangladesh welcomed them. The government built a large area for them. It was meant to hold 800,000 people.

By 2024, nearly 950,000 refugees were in the camps.

Life in the camp can be hard. The homes are often built on steep hills. This can lead to floods and landslides. The camp also sits near forests. Wild elephants live in this area. Sometimes elephants and people meet. Volunteers now help keep everyone safe from the animals.

Many groups help the people in the camp. The United Nations and many countries provide aid. Some people tried to move refugees to an island. However, many refugees did not want to go. They want to stay near help and their communities.

The Kutupalong refugee camp is a very large settlement in Bangladesh. It is known as the largest refugee camp in the world. Most of the people living there are Rohingya. They fled from Myanmar to find safety from unfair treatment. The camp is located in Ukhia, within the Cox's Bazar region. Many different groups work together to help the people there. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees receives support from seven international groups. These include the governments of Canada, Japan, and the United States.

Life in the camp is often difficult for the families. Many shelters are built on steep hillsides using flimsy materials. Because of this, the camps face dangers from flooding and landslides. This is especially true during the heavy monsoon rain seasons. The area is also very crowded with many people living close together. In June 2020, the camp and its expansion site held over 598,000 people. This meant there were about 46,042 people in every square kilometre.

The history of the camp began many years ago. It started informally in 1991 after people fled the Burmese military. In July 2017, the two main camps held about 34,000 people. However, things changed quickly in late August 2017. Large attacks in Myanmar caused hundreds of thousands more people to flee. The government of Bangladesh decided to build a large area for them. They used 3,000 acres of forest land for this purpose. The goal was to hold up to 800,000 refugees.

Nature also plays a big role in the area around the camp. The settlement grew into a place where many forests were lost. By late 2019, about 8,000 acres of forest had been destroyed. People used the wood for building and for firewood. This change also affected the local wildlife. Critically endangered Asian elephants live in this part of Cox's Bazar. The camps sit on the paths these elephants use to travel. This has led to some dangerous meetings between humans and elephants. To help, volunteers joined Elephant Response Teams to drive them away safely.

There have been many discussions about where the refugees should live. Some leaders tried to move people back to Myanmar. Many Rohingya refugees refused to go back because they feared for their safety. They want to return only when they can be citizens again. Other plans tried to move people to an island called Bhasan Char. This island is 37 miles away from the main land. Many refugees rejected this idea because they feared being isolated. They want to stay close to help and their own communities.

The Kutupalong refugee camp is the largest refugee settlement in the world. It is located in Ukhia, within the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh. The camp is primarily inhabited by Rohingya refugees. These people fled from Myanmar due to ethnic and religious persecution. While the original Kutupalong Registered Rohingya Refugee camp is government-operated, many makeshift camps have grown around it. These unofficial settlements have merged together over time. The International Organization for Migration calls this massive area the Kutupalong–Balukhali expansion site.

The camp's growth happened in distinct stages. It began informally in 1991 after people fled the Burmese military's Operation Pyi Thaya. By July 2017, the combined population of the Kutupalong and Nayapara camps was about 34,000 people. However, a massive influx occurred starting August 25, 2017. Extensive attacks in Myanmar's Rakhine State forced hundreds of thousands to flee. In response, the Bangladesh government allocated 3,000 acres of forest land. This area was designed to accommodate up to 800,000 refugees. By September 2017, the population had already climbed above 77,000.

Life in the camp is defined by extreme population density. On June 30, 2020, the Kutupalong camp and expansion site held 598,545 people. These 187,423 families lived within just 13 square kilometers. This created a density of 46,042 people per square kilometer. As of June 2024, nearly 950,000 refugees live in the Cox's Bazar camps. Many people live in flimsy shelters on steep hillsides. This makes the area very dangerous during monsoon seasons. Flooding and landslides are constant risks for the residents.

The environment has changed significantly due to the settlement. By late 2019, the development had destroyed roughly 8,000 acres of forest. Over 6,164 acres were used for living spaces. Another 1,837 acres were used for firewood and bamboo. This loss was estimated to cost about US$290,400,000 in environmental value. This destruction has caused concern for local officials and environmentalists.

The loss of trees affects the entire local ecosystem.

Human-wildlife conflict is another major challenge in the region. The camps sit on historical migratory routes for Asian elephants. These elephants are considered a critically endangered species. Because the camps occupy grazing areas, dangerous encounters occur. By late 2019, these conflicts had killed at least 13 Rohingya people. To manage this, the UNHCR and IUCN created a mitigation program. They organized Rohingya volunteers into Elephant Response Teams. These teams use standardized techniques to drive elephants away safely.

There are ongoing debates about the future of the refugees. The Bangladesh government has pushed for repatriation to Myanmar. However, many Rohingya refugees have refused to return. They fear continued violence and persecution in their homeland. They demand citizenship and international observers to ensure their safety. Another plan involved moving 100,000 people to Bhasan Char. This is a silt island in the Bay of Bengal, 37 miles from the mainland. Many refugees rejected this because they feared isolation and cyclones. They also worried about the lack of farmland and forest.

The camp also faces complex social and legal issues. Authorities have placed restrictions on movement and the right to work. These rules were implemented due to concerns regarding security and stability. Local citizens have also expressed concerns about job competition. There have been struggles with human trafficking and illegal drug trades. To support the camp, the UNHCR receives help from seven international entities. These include the governments of Canada, Japan, the United States, and the European Union. They also receive support from Finland, Sweden, and the Stichting INGKA Foundation.