To protect refugees from more dangerous encounters we have teamed up with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is saddened by these incidents and we are working hard to prevent further deaths and damage. Other people have been injured and lost the little property they had. Tragically ten refugees have been killed by frightened elephants inside the settlements. When wild elephants attempt to pass through the camp they inevitably come into contact with people, which is where the danger arises. There are about 40 elephants in the area and they move between Bangladesh and Myanmar in search of food. The area now occupied by the Kutupalong refugee settlement has long been an important habitat for Asian Elephants. This in itself brings new challenges to the massive humanitarian response in Bangladesh that is under way. It is the world’s biggest refugee settlement. As a result of the crisis in Rakhine State, the Kutupalong refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar now hosts more than 560,000 refugees. Bangladesh and its people have responded generously, providing safety, shelter and support to refugees. More than 670,000 Rohigya refugees have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh since 25 August.
