IOM expands BD flood response

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has expanded its emergency response in Bangladesh as weeks of heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides have affected more than one million people across 10 districts.

The UN migration agency is providing life-saving assistance to flood-affected communities, including Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi hosts, while calling for sustained international support to strengthen resilience against increasingly frequent climate-related disasters.

More than 52,000 Rohingya refugees and over 13,000 people with disabilities are among those affected, according to an IOM press release.

Government figures show that at least 57 people have died in floods and landslides across the country.

“Families have lost homes, livelihoods and loved ones. This emergency underscores the growing human cost of climate-related disasters and the urgent need to strengthen resilience before disasters strike,” said IOM Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Iori Kato.

He said the organisation was working closely with the Bangladesh government and humanitarian partners to provide emergency assistance, support recovery and help communities prepare for more frequent and intense climate shocks.

Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, where the world’s largest and most densely populated refugee settlement is located, are among the worst-affected districts.

In the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, prolonged rainfall has saturated fragile hillsides, causing flash floods and landslides that have damaged more than 5,000 shelters, along with community facilities and infrastructure.

Outside the camps, homes, roads, bridges, schools and other public infrastructure have also suffered extensive damage, disrupting livelihoods and limiting access to essential services.

As co-chair of the Displacement Management Cluster, IOM coordinated with humanitarian partners to assess the needs of affected communities and develop a plan for priority interventions.

In coordination with the government, the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, district administrations and humanitarian organisations, IOM has deployed emergency teams to affected areas.

The agency is providing emergency shelter materials to families whose homes have been damaged. It is also helping people relocate from unstable hillsides and other high-risk areas.

Despite difficult conditions, IOM said essential services remain operational. Mobile medical teams and health facilities continue to provide treatment, while protection teams are offering psychological first aid and targeted support to children and other vulnerable groups.

Bangladesh remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. IOM estimated that 4.96 million people were internally displaced by disasters in 2025, with many remaining displaced for extended periods.

As El Niño conditions intensify, IOM said it was discussing a coordinated approach with partners to prevent displacement, protect affected populations and advance durable solutions.

The organisation stressed that stronger disaster-risk reduction measures, climate-resilient infrastructure and anticipatory action would be essential to protect lives and reduce future humanitarian needs.