Massive Fire at World’s Largest Refugee Camp
On Sunday, March 5 a fire started in a Rohingya refugee camp in south-east Bangladesh. The blaze quickly spread within the camp and destroyed 2,000 shelters – leaving 12,000 people displaced. While the inferno has been extinguished; it, nonetheless, annihilated around three dozen mosques and 21 learning centers. The damage was extensive in part because many of the shelters are near one another and are made of bamboo-and-tarpaulin which acted as a fuel for the fire. Surprisingly, no one died as a result of the massive fire.
What happened in Bangladesh?
Instructors: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Download: CQP_Lecture_Spark_PPT_Massive Fire at World’s Largest Refugee Camp
Videos
News Articles
Bangladesh investigates huge fire at world’s largest refugee camp
BBC NEWS
March 6, 2023
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64858932
Huge fire at Rohingya refugee camp leaves thousands without shelter
THE GUARDIAN
March 6, 2023
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/06/rohingya-refugee-camp-fire-bangladesh-coxs-bazar
Fire rips through Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh leaving thousands homeless
CNN
March 6, 2023
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/05/asia/fire-rohingya-refugee-camp-bangladesh-intl/index.html
A massive fire tore through a crowded Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh
NPR
March 5, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/05/1161196056/fire-rohingya-refugee-camp-in-bangladesh
How Rohingya camps are turning into crime zones
DHAKA TRIBUNE
March 6, 2023
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2023/03/06/how-rohingya-camps-are-turning-into-crime-zones
Fire At Rohingya Camps: Many pointing at conflict between Arsa, RSO
THE DAILY STAR
March 7, 2023
Fire blazes through crowded Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh
ALJAZEERA
March 5, 2023
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/5/fire-hits-crowded-rohingya-refugee-camp-in-bangladesh
UN to cut food rations for Rohingya refugees ahead of Ramadan
ARAB NEWS
February 17, 2023
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2253196/world
Assessment
Writing: What challenges do the Rohingya refugees in the camp face?
Debate: What is the best way to achieve peace between the Myanmar government and the Rohingya?
Poll: Should the international community provide more assistance to the Rohingya?
Short Answer: What are the ramifications of the massive fire at the Rohingya refugee camp?
News Quiz
True/False
Over the last two years there have been more than 200 fires at the Rohingya refugee camp. (T/F)
Crime in the Rohingya refugee camp is on the decline. (T/F)
According to the UN the Rohingya are the world’s most persecuted people. (T/F)
Multiple Choice
Which of the following groups has the Myanmar government been accused of committing genocide against?
- Muslims.
- Hindus.
- Buddhists.
- Christians.
The World Food Program recently reduced food rations to refugees in the Rohingya camp by what percentage?
- 12.
- 17.
- 24.
- 26.
All the following are true concerning a fire at a Rohingya refugee camp EXCEPT.
- 2,000 shelters were destroyed.
- 12,000 people have been displaced.
- 1,500 people were killed.
- Around three dozen mosques were annihilated.
