Cyclone Mocha struck the coastal areas near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on 14 May 2023. The heavy rains and strong winds led to landslides, as well as damage and destruction to homes and facilities in all 33 Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and neighbouring Bangladeshi communities. By the time Cyclone Mocha made landfall, it was classified as a Category Five Storm with winds of up to 250 kilometres an hour. While Bangladesh missed the eye of the Cyclone, close to 40,000 Rohingya refugees had their shelters - made of bamboo and tarpaulin - damaged or destroyed. Many more lost access to clean drinking water and other Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities. Key facilities for education, nutrition, protection, and more were damaged or destroyed.

The Government of Bangladesh, that has sophisticated Disaster Management Systems in place, and together with the humanitarian community worked extensively on preparing for the worst-case scenario on a ‘no regrets’ basis. Years of planning and training paid off and all efforts were made to protect the most vulnerable communities. The Government and its partners in the United Nations (UN), Red Cross/Red Crescent family, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) community have worked to reinforce preparedness activities such as early warning protocols, community outreach messages and signals, establishment of Disaster Management Committees, organized relocations, coordinated cash and food distribution and much more.

In the aftermath of the Cyclone, the Government also led efforts to provide immediate assistance with the support of emergency humanitarian teams. Rohingya refugee volunteers in the camps were the first responders in their communities.