UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened by reports of a new shipwreck in the Bay of Bengal this morning in which at least four Rohingya refugees died when their boat capsized close to the southern Bangladesh shore. Others who were injured have been taken to local hospitals for immediate treatment.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has relocated some 1,700 new refugees to a government-allocated site in south-eastern Bangladesh, decongesting existing facilities in Kutupalong and giving them a home after weeks on the move.

UNHCR identified sites to build five additional health centres, as planned in its emergency response plan. Two centres are under construction and already providing some services, such as outpatient and maternity services. The five health centres will benefit approximately 50,000 patients each, thus covering a total 250,000 refugees.

The authorities and UNHCR have identified a site for a transit centre to temporarily host new arrivals before they are allocated a plot in Kutupalong extension. UNHCR is coordinating with partners to set up medical services, sanitation facilities, family reunification, and provision of food and water.

The joint family counting exercise, led by the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) and supported by UNHCR, was launched in Balukhali. A joint team of around 114 staff is collecting information on families, including vulnerabilities and specific needs, and geo-localising them through a mobile device. Refugee families will receive an RRRC card to facilitate harmonized assistance delivery.

UNHCR’s first diarrhoea treatment centre (20 beds) is now operational in Kutupalong. It was established in partnership with Gonoshathaya Kendra (GK) with the technical participation of Medical Teams International, under the Refugee Health Units. A second treatment centre should be operational by the end of the week in Nayapara. In total, UNHCR plans to open 4 to 6 diarrhoea treatment centres with a total capacity of 80 beds over the next six months.

UNHCR has delivered five humanitarian airlifts which were loaded with supplied such as tents, plastic sheets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and kitchen sets. A sixth airlift is being scheduled.

With the support of UNHCR, the Bangladeshi authorities are building a road network to facilitate access to refugee settlements in Kutupalong. Construction started with a 5 km road to connect the settlements to the main road leading to Cox's Bazar.