On Sunday 5 March a fire broke out in Bangladesh in the world’s largest refugee camp, near the city of Cox’ Bazar. Around 2,000 shelters have been destroyed and nearly 12,000 people lost their home. “People are in complete shock, and many are injured. They require urgent medical and psychological care. Ninety facilities, including many primary health care units, were destroyed” says Cordula Wasser, Asia department head of the Order of Malta’s international relief agency, Malteser International.. “We have now increased our staff to care for more patients. We are also deploying additional mobile teams for first aid and psychologists for mental health support. Fortunately, the health facility that is operated by our local partner organization in the affected camp area has been spared.”

The largest refugee camp on earth, near the Bangladeshi city of Cox’s Bazar, is currently home to around 900,000 people. Malteser International, with the support of local partners, has been providing assistance primarily in the health sector since the refugee crisis began in 2017. In addition to operating three health facilities, volunteers are trained to support health workers in the communities. In addition, the refugees are receiving psychological care. The project is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.