Severe cyclone Amphan may wreak havoc on Rohingya refugee camps
Very extreme cyclonic storm 'Amphan' is approaching Bangladesh coast, between Khulna-Chattogram, rapidly.
It is likely to make landfall between Tuesday night time and Wednesday evening, in line with the latest special weather bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have already been advised to hoist danger signal 7, while Chattogram and Cox's Bazar have been advised to hoist danger signal 6.
The Met Office on Monday night said 11 coastal districts -- Satkhira, Khulna, Bagherhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars --will come under danger signal 7.
Meanwhile, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars should come under danger signal #6 6, the special weather bulletin said.
The cyclonic storm may possibly also bring heavy rains to the world's largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, where almost one million Rohingya refugees live after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar's Rakhine state and are moving into camps highly susceptible to heavy rains and storm surge flooding.
A storm could possibly be particularly devastating in the camp, particularly when considering that the first known Covid-19 cases were confirmed there just the other day. One human rights advocate said that a novel coronavirus outbreak in the camp would be a "nightmare scenario."
"The prevalence of underlying health conditions among refugees and the deteriorating sanitary conditions sure to include the looming monsoon and flooding season make for a witch's brew of conditions where the virus is sure to thrive," said Daniel P. Sullivan, who works for the US-based organization Refugees International.
As of Monday morning, Bangladesh had determined at least 22,268 Covid-19 cases and 328 virus-related deaths.
