LIQUEFACTION POTENTIALITY INDEX BASED RISKS IN THE ROHINGYA REFUGEE CAMPS OF UKHIYA, COX’S BAZAR, BANGLADESH---A THREAT FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY LIVING

Due to ethnic cleansing, more than one million Muslim Rohingyas repatriated from Myanmar to Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh. They are living in the Ukhiya hills of Kutubpalong, Balukhali and Teknaf area of Bangladesh in an anti-humanitarian condition. They constructed many temporary shelters by cutting hill slopes, trees of Ukhiya hills. These hills are mainly composed of very loose to loose sands with some silts & clays. Earthquake induced liquefaction risk in the Rohingya refugee camp area might create major destructions on the constructed temporary Rohingya shelters in the camp area. This research is mainly focused on the risk assessment based on Liquefaction potentiality index (LPI) values at different earthquake magnitudes. LPI values have been evaluated and LPI based risk maps of the camp area were produced. It is established that the hills are at risk at earthquake magnitude (M) 5 or above, Based on observed LPI values four risk zones are identified in the Rohigya refugee camp area of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Sustainable geotechnical & geological engineering solutions are recommended for the Rohingya victims to reduce the risk. Immediate measures must be taken by the concerned authorities including United Nations(UN), UNHCR, NGO’s and Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to replace the Rohingya refugee camps from risky hill slopes to safer ground and need to ensure Rohingya’s return immediately to Myanmar to save lives and properties during earthquake and to attain sustainability in the Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh.

Keywords: LPI. magnitude, earthquake, Rohingya & Risk.