Tragedy After Landslide in the Rohingya Refugee Camps: RCN Calls for Immediate International Action Before More Lives Are Los
9 July 2026
Rohingya Community in Norway (RCN) expresses deep sorrow and grave concern following reports of a massive landslide that struck a girls’ school in Camp 5 in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Preliminary reports indicate that many students and teachers may be trapped beneath the debris. Rescue operations are still ongoing, and the final number of people killed, injured, and rescued has not yet been confirmed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the children, teachers, families, and all those now waiting in fear and despair. May Allah protect those who are still trapped, grant strength to the rescue teams, and comfort everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.
This tragedy must not be treated as an isolated natural disaster. It is the direct consequence of a prolonged man-made catastrophe: the Rohingya people have been driven from their homeland of Arakan through systematic persecution, violence, village burnings, confiscation of property, and genocide. They have been forced to live in overcrowded, unsafe, and vulnerable camps, where monsoon rains, landslides, floods, and fires repeatedly claim innocent lives.
RCN emphasizes that both Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakan Army (AA) bear a heavy responsibility for the continued suffering of the Rohingya. Myanmar’s military regime carried out brutal operations against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017, leading to mass displacement, the destruction of villages, and the loss of countless lives. At the same time, it must be stated clearly: AA cannot evade responsibility. On the contrary, AA today has a particularly serious role because the group controls large parts of Arakan and still does not facilitate the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the Rohingya.
RCN believes that AA is, in practice, continuing the displacement of the Rohingya. Instead of opening the way for return, security, property rights, citizenship, and dignity, AA has contributed to new forms of fear, restrictions, forced labour, arbitrary abuses, and pressure that force the remaining Rohingya to flee. Many Rohingya are once again risking their lives because they are safe neither in Arakan nor in the refugee camps.
RCN also recalls that Rakhine extremist forces played a serious role in the violence against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017. Many of these forces participated in or supported the burning of village after village, as well as the looting of Rohingya property, livestock, and livelihoods. Today, many of the same anti-Rohingya attitudes and structures are linked to AA’s policies and practices in Arakan. Therefore, AA’s responsibility is not less, but in many cases even more serious, because AA now claims control and authority over areas where the Rohingya have their historical roots.
The monsoon rains have only just begun, yet Rohingya refugees are already experiencing tragedy after tragedy. Within just a few days, several major landslides have claimed lives, affected children, and destroyed families. Every time the world waits, more lives are lost.
RCN therefore calls on the international community, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Government of Norway to act immediately:
Provide urgent humanitarian support for rescue operations, medical assistance, safe evacuation, and safer temporary shelters in the camps.
Increase pressure on Myanmar’s military regime and AA to stop all abuses against the Rohingya and ensure full humanitarian access in Arakan.
Demand that AA guarantee safety, freedom of movement, property rights, and full protection for Rohingya in areas under its control.
Work for the safe, voluntary, dignified, and rights-based return of the Rohingya to Arakan, not their permanent confinement in refugee camps.
Support international legal processes and accountability for crimes committed by both Myanmar’s military and AA.
Increase Norway’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts before the monsoon leads to even more deaths.
The Rohingya belong in Arakan, not in dangerous refugee camps where children are buried beneath landslides while the world watches. The refugee camps in Bangladesh are not a solution. They are a temporary result of genocide, displacement, and international inaction.
RCN urges the Government of Norway to use its voice more clearly and more strongly. Action must be taken now — not after the next tragedy, not after the next landslide, and not after even more children have lost their lives.
Rohingya Community in Norway (RCN)
Norway
Rohingya Community in Norway (RCN) expresses deep sorrow and grave concern following reports of a massive landslide that struck a girls’ school in Camp 5 in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Preliminary reports indicate that many students and teachers may be trapped beneath the debris. Rescue operations are still ongoing, and the final number of people killed, injured, and rescued has not yet been confirmed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the children, teachers, families, and all those now waiting in fear and despair. May Allah protect those who are still trapped, grant strength to the rescue teams, and comfort everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.
This tragedy must not be treated as an isolated natural disaster. It is the direct consequence of a prolonged man-made catastrophe: the Rohingya people have been driven from their homeland of Arakan through systematic persecution, violence, village burnings, confiscation of property, and genocide. They have been forced to live in overcrowded, unsafe, and vulnerable camps, where monsoon rains, landslides, floods, and fires repeatedly claim innocent lives.
RCN emphasizes that both Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakan Army (AA) bear a heavy responsibility for the continued suffering of the Rohingya. Myanmar’s military regime carried out brutal operations against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017, leading to mass displacement, the destruction of villages, and the loss of countless lives. At the same time, it must be stated clearly: AA cannot evade responsibility. On the contrary, AA today has a particularly serious role because the group controls large parts of Arakan and still does not facilitate the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the Rohingya.
RCN believes that AA is, in practice, continuing the displacement of the Rohingya. Instead of opening the way for return, security, property rights, citizenship, and dignity, AA has contributed to new forms of fear, restrictions, forced labour, arbitrary abuses, and pressure that force the remaining Rohingya to flee. Many Rohingya are once again risking their lives because they are safe neither in Arakan nor in the refugee camps.
RCN also recalls that Rakhine extremist forces played a serious role in the violence against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017. Many of these forces participated in or supported the burning of village after village, as well as the looting of Rohingya property, livestock, and livelihoods. Today, many of the same anti-Rohingya attitudes and structures are linked to AA’s policies and practices in Arakan. Therefore, AA’s responsibility is not less, but in many cases even more serious, because AA now claims control and authority over areas where the Rohingya have their historical roots.
The monsoon rains have only just begun, yet Rohingya refugees are already experiencing tragedy after tragedy. Within just a few days, several major landslides have claimed lives, affected children, and destroyed families. Every time the world waits, more lives are lost.
RCN therefore calls on the international community, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Government of Norway to act immediately:
Provide urgent humanitarian support for rescue operations, medical assistance, safe evacuation, and safer temporary shelters in the camps.
Increase pressure on Myanmar’s military regime and AA to stop all abuses against the Rohingya and ensure full humanitarian access in Arakan.
Demand that AA guarantee safety, freedom of movement, property rights, and full protection for Rohingya in areas under its control.
Work for the safe, voluntary, dignified, and rights-based return of the Rohingya to Arakan, not their permanent confinement in refugee camps.
Support international legal processes and accountability for crimes committed by both Myanmar’s military and AA.
Increase Norway’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts before the monsoon leads to even more deaths.
The Rohingya belong in Arakan, not in dangerous refugee camps where children are buried beneath landslides while the world watches. The refugee camps in Bangladesh are not a solution. They are a temporary result of genocide, displacement, and international inaction.
RCN urges the Government of Norway to use its voice more clearly and more strongly. Action must be taken now — not after the next tragedy, not after the next landslide, and not after even more children have lost their lives.
Rohingya Community in Norway (RCN)
Norway
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