The Hidden Geo-Hazards in the Rohingya Refugee Camps of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh—A Threat for Sustainable Development

This research is mainly focused on some hidden geo-hazards of the world’s largest refugee camp of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh. The ethnic cleansing Of Rohingya citizens from Myanmar to Bangladesh since 2017 has been creating a major environmental crisis for Bangladesh. Due to this cleansing, more than one million people have fled from Myanmar to Ukhiya, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh. These refugees have been forced to build temporary shelters on the steep, deforested slopes of sand and clay hills of Kutupalong –Balukhali camps of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Managing slope failures by reducing pore water pressure during raining is a big challenge. Some refugees also adapt themselves by collecting rainwater from the slope through an integrated rainwater harvesting system, which helps them to reduce the water crisis and slope failure problems in some areas. The whole area mainly small hillocks and hills of the Ukhiya area are at great risk, especially during monsoon. This research is focused mainly on finding hidden geo-hazards and associated risks of the World’s largest refugee camp area to ensure a sustainable settlement for the Rohingyas. Several case study results of recent slope failures are presented to understand the risk during monsoon in the camp area. From numerical seepage and stability modeling of slopes at different locations of Ukhiya camps, it is established that Ukhiya hill slopes and the temporary shelters of Rohingyas are at great risk during monsoonal heavy rainfall for sustainable community-based living in the camp area. The variation of factor of safety values with different rainfall amount are considered to see the impacts of rainwater on the stability. Risk zonation map based on Factor of Safety (Fs) values of the camp area is established and some sustainable solutions are recommended.