Weather of Arabia - Sinan Khalaf - A natural disaster is threatening the largest refugee camp in the world, coinciding with the movement of a cyclone towards the coasts of eastern Bangladesh and Myanmar, bringing with it heavy rains and strong winds whose speed may exceed 170 km / h.
Fears are growing about the direct impacts of the cyclone on about a million Rohingya refugees and others living in low-lying areas. Bangladesh and Myanmar have issued orders to hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes before the powerful cyclone that is expected to hit the two countries on Sunday afternoon.
The World Meteorological Organization, a United Nations agency, warned of heavy rains, floods and landslides that could affect "hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable people in the world", including Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and 6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Rakhine state in neighboring Myanmar.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it expects Cyclone Mocha to make its way through Myanmar's Rakhine State and northwest Myanmar, where 6 million people live in need of humanitarian assistance and 1.2 million are displaced.
"We are focusing on saving lives...those at risk of landslides will be evacuated," said Muhammad Shams al-Duja, a government official responsible for refugee affairs in Bangladesh.
It is noteworthy that storms are common in the region at this time of the year, but Hurricane Mocha comes at a time when it is receiving increased attention for extreme weather, after parts of Asia witnessed a severe heat wave during the months of April and May this year.
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