Cox’s Bazar is home to the biggest refugee camp in the world, and the challenges are compounded.
“All camps in the world are different,” explains Mathieu. “Nearly one million people live in the Cox’s Bazar camps and in some areas the population density exceeds that of Dhaka, the capital, which is already very dense. In 2018, it used to take hours to reach households in some parts.
“The hilly landscape is covered by temporary shelters as far as the eye can see. Walking in the narrow muddy paths of the camps, between the bamboo shelters, there are children running around everywhere. Many of them are playing with bamboo sticks or carrying goods and jerricans full of water.
There are also challenges with water and sanitation. “Sometimes, it doesn’t smell great, as some households build their own sanitation on top of open drains,” Mathieu says.