Dhaka: In response to a devastating fire that destroyed one of the overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar, Saudi Arabia is building hundreds of shelters for Rohingya refugees, the Kingdom's envoy in Dhaka announced this week.

When a fire started in the Balukhali camp in March, approximately 12,000 people lost their homes. With 1.2 million Rohingya Muslims living there who fled violence and persecution in neighbouring Myanmar, the camp is a part of the world's largest refugee settlement.

According to Essa Al-Duhailan, the Saudi ambassador to Bangladesh, "We will, inshallah, continue providing assistance and support to the Rohingya and the vulnerable communities here in Bangladesh."

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Since the military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine State in 2017 that led to their mass exodus to Bangladesh, the Kingdom has been aiding Rohingya refugees through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, or KSrelief.

Al-Duhailan claimed that Bangladesh is a top priority for KSrelief, Saudi Arabia's humanitarian organisation, which manages over 44 projects in the South Asian country valued at roughly $600 million. He added that more than $23 million has already been allocated specifically for the Rohingya.

To repatriate the Rohingya minority to their homeland with dignity and security, inshallah, is one of Saudi Arabia's concerns, according to Al-Duhailan.

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Mizanur Rahman, Commissioner for Refugee Relief and Repatriation, told Arab News that hundreds of shelters are currently being constructed in Cox's Bazar and will be finished soon.

With the aid of a local non-governmental organisation, the 400 houses are being rebuilt. The work is now in its final stages, according to Rahman.

The Rohingya now primarily reside inside camp areas under tents. Providing shelter for the Rohingya who were impacted by the fire is a huge help.

Members of the community in Bangladesh welcomed Saudi support for the Rohingya.

"The Rohingya are pleased with KSrelief's initiative. According to Mohammed Jamal, a 28-year-old Rohingya man in Cox's Bazar, Saudi Arabia has been aiding us as much as they can.

"I thank the Kingdom authorities for keeping us in the loop during this crisis."

The executive director of the Rohingya Youth Association, Khin Maung, expressed appreciation for the Saudi assistance as well.

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Maung told Arab News, "We are grateful to Saudi Arabia for helping this struggling community. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Saudi Arabia offer significant support for the Rohingya, particularly in the international forum to ensure justice for the genocide of the Rohingya.

But because the majority of them are residing in tarpaulin-covered temporary homes, Maung claimed that the fire victims and their families require more assistance.

"The Muslim Ummah should come together on this Rohingya issue and show more support, not just through words but also through deeds."