Desperate Rohingya Refugees Face Squalor at Crowded Bangladeshi Camp

Hands of refugees stretch out as they scramble for donations in the Balukhali camp on Sept. 18, 2017 in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Since Aug. 25 more than 410,000 people have arrived in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar area from Myanmar. Many of them have gathered in makeshift or spontaneous settlements.

A refugee walks in the Balukhali camp on Sept. 18. in Cox's Bazar.

Men pray before the body of 70-year-old Khatiza Begum is laid to rest on Sept. 18.

Begum had to flee Kinoce village in Myanmar two weeks ago after the military and local Buddhists alledgedly attacked people and houses.

A refugee child walks through the camp near the Bangladesh town of Gumdhum on Sept. 17.

Heavy monsoon rain heaped new misery on hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohinyga stuck in makeshift camps after fleeing violence in Myanmar.

A Rohingya refugee holds an umbrella during heavy rainfall on Sept. 17.

Poor nutrition, communicable diseases (including vaccine-preventable and water-borne diseases), injuries and other concerns such as mental health provide immense public health challenges that the Ministry of Health, Bangladesh, WHO and other health partners are working to address.

Saheh Ahmad, 60, stands outside his makeshift shelter on top of a hill in the overcrowded camp on Sept. 17.

Makeshift shelters cover the hills in the camp on Sept. 17.

Rohingya Muslim women, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, stretch their arms out to collect sanitary products distributed by aid agencies on Sept. 17.

Bangladeshi authorities have taken steps to restrict the movement of refugees living in crowded border camps after fleeing violence.

A girl waits for her mother as she takes shelter under an umbrella after collecting food aid as it rains on Sept. 18.

A Bangladeshi paramedic checks the height of a child before treating him at a health clinic near the camp on Sept. 17.

Bangladesh is struggling to cope with the refugees and aid workers fear people could die due to a lack of food, shelter and water, given the numbers.

A refugee carries a rice bag along a road near the camp on Sept. 17.

Refugees look on as they stand inside temporary shelters on Sept. 17.

A veil-clad Rohingya Muslim woman stands on a roadside while her husband looks for shelter on Sept. 17.

Mohammad Zakaria, who sustained bullet injuries to his left leg when Myanmar monks and soldiers attacked his village, waits for food aid on Sept. 17.

Rohingya refugees protect themselves from the rain on Sept. 17.

Shara Begum holds her daughter Murad Jan as she poses for a photo on Sept. 17.

Rohingya refugees shelter under an umbrella during rain on Sept. 17.

Rohingya children stand inside their makeshift tent without light at the top of the camp on Sept. 15.

Many of the Rohingya fleeing the violence in Myanmar had traveled by boat to find refuge in neighboring Bangladesh.

Rohingya Muslims interrogate a suspected child trafficker on Sept. 15.

A young Rohingya boy sits next to solar panels outside a basic shelter on Sept. 15.

The Bangladesh government have used troops to deliver foreign aid to the border town that has been overwhelmed by Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar.

A Rohingya Muslim boy carries jerry cans filled with water collected from a nearby hand pump on Sept. 13.

A boy stands near a newly built shelter on Sept. 13.

Bangladesh has said all refugees must go home. Myanmar has said it will take back those who can verify their citizenship.

A man accused of stealing money from Rohingya refugees is tied to a tree on Sept. 13.

A Rohingya refugee boy sits inside his temporary shelter on Sept. 12.