Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh
Improper sanitation and waste management is the number one cause for ill health, disease and death throughout the world, particularly under extremely dense living conditions in refugee camps in the global South. This paper discusses the results of a mixed-method study conducted in Rohingya refugee...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
2025
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| Online Access: | https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/965 |
| _version_ | 1857448905559506944 |
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| author | Nazim Uddin, Sayed Mohammad |
| author_facet | Nazim Uddin, Sayed Mohammad |
| author_sort | Nazim Uddin, Sayed Mohammad |
| collection | institutional Repository |
| description | Improper sanitation and waste management is the number one cause for ill health, disease and death throughout the world, particularly
under extremely dense living conditions in refugee camps in the global South. This paper discusses the results of a mixed-method study
conducted in Rohingya refugee camps, located in Chittagong, Bangladesh, currently hosting the world’s largest concentration of refugees.
Our structured questionnaire, group discussion and interviews were centered on waste-borne hazards. The research has evidenced
severe challenges associated with overall precarious sanitation and waste situations in the camps. Garbage littering and open defecation
are widely practiced. Congested drainage systems contribute to flooding, bringing waste and contaminants into people’s homes. Improve-
ments can be made by involving camp inhabitants in decision-making processes and giving them greater ownership in everyday
infrastructure maintenance. Our research suggests that community participation is the key tool to maintain proper cleanliness of drains
and toilets. Creating a stronger sense of community in the camps and practicing transparency and inclusion in planning and decision-
making can contribute to addressing the key threats identified in this research and also apply to other refugee camps worldwide, with similar
hazardous living conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | 123456789-965 |
| institution | Asian University for Women |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | 123456789-9652026-02-18T06:15:16Z Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh Nazim Uddin, Sayed Mohammad refugee camps, Royingha, sanitation, WASH, waste management Improper sanitation and waste management is the number one cause for ill health, disease and death throughout the world, particularly under extremely dense living conditions in refugee camps in the global South. This paper discusses the results of a mixed-method study conducted in Rohingya refugee camps, located in Chittagong, Bangladesh, currently hosting the world’s largest concentration of refugees. Our structured questionnaire, group discussion and interviews were centered on waste-borne hazards. The research has evidenced severe challenges associated with overall precarious sanitation and waste situations in the camps. Garbage littering and open defecation are widely practiced. Congested drainage systems contribute to flooding, bringing waste and contaminants into people’s homes. Improve- ments can be made by involving camp inhabitants in decision-making processes and giving them greater ownership in everyday infrastructure maintenance. Our research suggests that community participation is the key tool to maintain proper cleanliness of drains and toilets. Creating a stronger sense of community in the camps and practicing transparency and inclusion in planning and decision- making can contribute to addressing the key threats identified in this research and also apply to other refugee camps worldwide, with similar hazardous living conditions. 2025-08-06T09:47:10Z 2025-08-06T09:47:10Z 2022 Article https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/965 en application/pdf Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development |
| spellingShingle | refugee camps, Royingha, sanitation, WASH, waste management Nazim Uddin, Sayed Mohammad Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh |
| title | Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh |
| title_full | Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh |
| title_short | Exploring waste and sanitation-borne hazards in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh |
| title_sort | exploring waste and sanitation borne hazards in rohingya refugee camps in bangladesh |
| topic | refugee camps, Royingha, sanitation, WASH, waste management |
| url | https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/965 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nazimuddinsayedmohammad exploringwasteandsanitationbornehazardsinrohingyarefugeecampsinbangladesh |