Suspended gas deliveries to 37,000 Rohingya on Bhashan Char are driving forest wood collection, heightening deforestation and fire risks as agencies seek urgent international funding to restore safe cooking fuel supplies.
The suspension of cooking gas cylinder deliveries to Rohingya refugees on Bhashan Char is forcing the community to rely on nearby coastal forests for fuel, raising concerns about deforestation and fire hazards.
Under the government’s relocation plan, 37,260 Rohingya were moved from Cox’s Bazar camps to Bhashan Char. Each month, roughly 5,000 gas cylinders are needed to meet their cooking needs. Until March, the NGO Islamic Relief supplied 3,000 cylinders per month, covering only part of the requirement. However, the NGO stopped deliveries in January.
With gas unavailable, refugees are increasingly collecting wood from coastal forests. The Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC) warns that excessive wood gathering could degrade the environment, put residents’ safety at risk and increase the likelihood of accidental fires. Recent incidents have already raised concerns that a single fire could spread rapidly through the densely packed shelters.
A representative from Islamic Relief’s Bangladesh office, AWEM Anisuzzaman, explained that the program depended on US funding, which was reduced after a change in the US government. The NGO is now seeking alternative donors to resume monthly cylinder deliveries. He expressed hope that support could restart in March, restoring the previous monthly distribution of 3,000 cylinders.
In a letter sent in mid-February to the Prime Minister’s Office, the NGO Affairs Bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RRRC requested urgent assistance to ensure safe and sustainable cooking solutions for refugees.
Humanitarian agencies emphasize that immediate international support is critical to prevent environmental degradation, reduce fire risks and protect the lives of thousands of Rohingya living on the island.
