Shelter, Safety and Dignity: Enhancing Disaster Resilience in Cox’s Bazar Camps

On today's World Humanitarian Day, their story is a reminder that humanitarian action is not only about responding to emergencies. It is also about helping people live more safely, with dignity and hope, even when a crisis lasts far longer than anyone imagined.
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As monsoon rain battered Cox's Bazar this year, more than 5,500 shelters across Cox’s Bazar camps were damaged by heavy rain, strong winds and landslides. Families were once again forced to repair homes, relocate to safer areas or seek temporary refuge. 

Yet among the affected shelters, none of the Temporary Safer Shelters (TSS) supported by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) sustained significant damage.

This offered a glimpse of what is possible in one of the world's largest and most disaster-prone settlements, where more than one million Rohingya people continue to face overlapping risks from fire, flooding, storms and landslides. As the Rohingya crisis approaches its ninth year in August 2026, safer shelter remains one of the community's most urgent needs.

For Bashir Ahmod, 36, and his wife Rabeya Basri, 30, who moved into a Temporary Safer Shelter in November2025 with their two children, the difference is simple. Having fled their home in Rakhine State, Myanmar they have lived with uncertainty for years.

"Now, we can sleep without being scared," said Bashir, who has spent years living in the camp.

His wife Rabeya added: "This shelter has given my children a safer place to live and I feel more protected."

A new approach to safer shelters
The idea of the Temporary Safer Shelter did not emerge overnight.

Since 2017, Rohingya families have lived in bamboo shelters across 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar. Many were upgraded in 2021 to Midterm Shelters using treated bamboo, metal footings and tarpaulin, but these structures require frequent repairs, which not only increase humanitarian operational costs but also pose safety risks to residents. As Cox’s Bazar is a high-risk area for multiple natural hazards, these shelters are constantly exposed to heavy rain, strong winds and recurring fires, making them even more vulnerable. 

The Temporary Safer Shelter was developed following a series of disasters in the camps, including a major fire in Camp 11 in 2023 that destroyed 3,000 shelters within hours. It followed an earlier fire in 2021 that devastated large parts of Camps 9, 10 and 8 west. 

Combined with recurring monsoon rains, strong winds and landslides, such incidents highlighted the need for a shelter that could remain temporary, in line with government regulations, while providing greater safety, durability and dignity.

Following the fire, BDRCS and IFRC worked with partners to develop an improved shelter design, which was approved by the Shelter Cluster and the Government of Bangladesh in September 2025. So far, 280 temporary safer shelters have been built.

"As its name suggests, the Temporary Safer Shelter is not a permanent home, but a safer place to live," said Urmi Das,Shelter and Settlement manager in Population Movement Operation, Cox’s Bazar. 

"The development of Temporary Safer Shelters is a breakthrough for us. While they are temporary structures, the improved design significantly reduces the risks posed by fire, strong winds, and heavy rain. Fully compliant with government regulations, they are designed to help families stay safer and maintain their dignity, even in the most difficult conditions."

The shelters continue to use materials that are familiar and available locally. Bamboo remains the key material, but it is made stronger with rice straw, clay, chicken-wire mesh, cement and geotextile. These enhancements improve its durability and significantly reduce the need for frequent repairs under harsh weather conditions.
 
Another significant improvement is the roof. Instead of using tarpaulin alone, the new design coats it with cement, clay and rice straw, making it more resistant to fire and heavy rain. The walls are also reinforced, helping keep the shelter cooler during hotter months. 

The recent monsoon season served as a real test of the design. Despite widespread shelter damage across the camps, the Temporary Safer Shelters withstood the heavy rains and strong winds, demonstrating their potential to provide greater safety and peace of mind for refugee families.

Built by the community
A key feature of the project is community involvement. Camp residents are not just recipients; they are involved throughout the entire process, from start to completion. They work alongside trained community members to build their shelters and are paid for their contributions. This approach helps them learn how to care for their shelters and foster a stronger sense of ownership. 

While funding constraints mean that only a limited number of shelters have been built so far, BDRCS and IFRC continue to priorities for families living in the most vulnerable conditions.

As the Rohingya crisis enters its ninth year and returns remain unsafe, camp residents like Bashir and Rabeya are not asking for much �" only a temporary place to live with less fear, even in uncertain times. On today's World Humanitarian Day, their story is a reminder that humanitarian action is not only about responding to emergencies. It is also about helping people live more safely, with dignity and hope, even when a crisis lasts far longer than anyone imagined.

The writer is Senior Communications Officer, Cox’s Bazar Sub-Delegation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)