IOM scales up flood response in Bangladesh, calls for sustained international support

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has stepped up emergency relief operations in Bangladesh as weeks of intense rainfall, flooding and landslides have triggered one of the country's worst monsoon disasters this year, affecting more than ten lakh people across ten districts.

As humanitarian needs continue to rise, the UN migration agency is expanding life-saving assistance for flood-hit communities, including Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi hosts, while urging sustained international support to strengthen resilience against increasingly frequent climate-related disasters, according to an IOM press release.

More than ten lakh people have been affected across ten districts, including over 52,000 Rohingya refugees and more than 13,000 persons with disabilities, the organisation said.

According to the government, 57 people have died, and many others have been affected 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.

“IOM is working closely with the government of Bangladesh and humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving assistance, support recovery and help communities prepare for increasingly frequent and intense climate shocks,” he said.

Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s largest and most densely populated refugee settlement, were the hardest-hit districts.

In Cox’s Bazar’s camps, heavy rain has saturated fragile hillsides, with flash floods and landslides damaging more than 5,000 shelters as well as community facilities and infrastructure, the IOM said.

Outside camps, homes, roads, bridges, schools and other public infrastructure have been severely damaged, disrupting livelihoods and restraining access to essential services, it said.

As co-chair of the Displacement Management Cluster (DMC), IOM swiftly coordinated with cluster partners to identify the needs of affected communities and develop a plan for prioritised interventions.

In coordination with the government of Bangladesh, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, district authorities and humanitarian partners, IOM has deployed emergency teams across affected areas.

Emergency shelter assistance is being provided for households with damaged shelters, while relocation support is helping families move away from high-risk slopes and other unsafe areas, said the organisation.

Despite difficult conditions, IOM is maintaining essential services. Mobile medical teams and health facilities remain operational, while protection teams are providing psychological first aid and targeted assistance to children and other vulnerable people, it said.

Bangladesh remains highly exposed to climate-related disasters. In 2025, IOM estimated that 49.6 lakh people were internally displaced by disasters, with many remaining displaced for prolonged periods.

As the El Niño phenomenon intensifies this year, IOM is discussing with partners a collective approach to prevent displacement, protect displaced populations and advance durable solutions. Enhanced disaster risk reduction, resilient infrastructure and anticipatory action will be essential to protect lives and mitigate future humanitarian needs.