Half a million Rohingya children at risk in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh with cyclone and monsoon season on horizon: UNICEF

DHAKA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The health and safety of more than 520,000 Rohingya children living in overcrowded camps and informal settlements in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazaar district is likely to be put at even greater risk ahead of upcoming cyclone and monsoon seasons, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned Tuesday.

"As we get closer to the cyclone and monsoon seasons, what is already a dire humanitarian situation risks becoming a catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of children are already living in horrific conditions, and they will face an even greater risk of disease, flooding, landslides and further displacement," said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh in a statement.

"Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene conditions can lead to cholera outbreaks and to Hepatitis E, a deadly disease for pregnant women and their babies, while standing water pools can attract malaria-carrying mosquitos. Keeping children safe from disease must be an absolute priority," Beigbeder added.

More than 4,000 suspected cases of diphtheria have been reported among the refugee population, with 32 deaths including at least 24 children.

UNICEF and partners have launched a diphtheria vaccination campaign, and are working to provide children and families with access to safe water and sanitation facilities, but overcrowding and the growing risk of extreme weather increases the risk of further outbreaks.

In addition to the increased threat of disease outbreaks, the cyclone season brings an increased risk of flooding and landslides, a direct risk to children's lives.

Tropical cyclones generally strike Bangladesh in two seasons, March through July and September through December, with the greatest number of storms arriving in May and October.

In addition, the regular monsoon rains starting in June could bring devastating landslides and floods. There is a serious risk that shelters, water systems, latrines and other infrastructure could be severely damaged in storms or floods.

The government of Bangladesh has taken in more than 650,000 Rohingya refugees since Aug. 25th already and has been working with UNICEF to deliver life-saving support to the most recent and previous influxes of Rohingya refugees as well the host community in Cox's Bazar, located some 292 km southeast of capital Dhaka. Enditem