SINCE violence broke out in Rakhine state last month, more than 430,000 refugees have crossed the Bangladesh-Myanmar border into Cox’s Bazar.
Most of them have since been moved from roadsides into designated areas in Kutupalong, Balukhali, Tengkhali and Nayapara, among others, where they have constructed shelters using bamboo and plastic sheets.
The Bangladeshi government continues to work closely with civil society bodies and humanitarian agencies in deploying assistance to the refugees.
These photographs offer a glimpse into life at the camps. – September 29, 2017.
Refugees desperate for aid rushing to receive blankets from local donors outside the Balukhali camp. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.On average, there are three children in each family, oftentimes more. Without access to education or children's activities, these kids spend their days either playing in the dirt or doing labour jobs for the family. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.Solar panels are the only source of electricity for many of the families at the refugee camps. These panels were already in use at their homes in Myanmar, and are among the few essentials some families managed to take with them before fleeing. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.'Many children were slaughtered. They (the military) even put knives on the ground, and throw the children up so they fall onto the knives. We had to run, climb over the fence and cross the river into Bangladesh. We did not have money to pay the boatman when we crossed. Luckily, the locals helped us. If they do not give us citizenship in Myanmar, then it is better to die here,' says Lal Mia, from Sainda Param, Maungdaw, who now lives at the Tengkhali camp. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.Abu Bokkor Siddik, 30, from Shaiera Para, Maungdaw, using bamboo to construct shelter for his family. Demand far exceeds supply, and the prices of many essentials, especially construction materials, have quadrupled. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.Women waiting to receive aid from a distribution centre manned by the Bangladeshi army. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.Makeshift shelters at Nayapara in Brickfields, where newly arrived refugees have been staying for two weeks. Even with intermittent aid, there is a severe shortage of food, and a lack of proper sanitation and fresh water. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.A makeshift shelter that is still under construction in Nayapara, where there is a registered camp built in 1992, as well as a makeshift settlement area to house newly arrived refugees. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.People entering the Nayapara camp, home to registered refugees from 1992. When it was first opened, the population was estimated at 10,000. Today, there are about 19,000 people. The area is called Brickfields as it sits on land adjacent to a brick factory. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.'They shot into our houses, burned the village and raped our women. We had to run to save our lives,' says Zakir Ahmed, 60, from Nasakuru. He walked through the forest for nine days with 12 family members, including a woman he claims to be 120 years old. His left eye is blinded from an injury sustained while fleeing Myanmar. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.The hills in Cox's Bazar now have thousands of makeshift shelters, as seen here at the edge of the Balukhali camp. As of this month, there are some 44,640 people living at the shelters. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Mahen Bala, September 29, 2017.
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