Global residents in the refugee camps are challenged by waste and sanitary related hazards. Millions of refugees around the world, who are displaced or have fled their countries and are seeking shelter in their neighboring countries, are facing serious health problems due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities and waste management systems. Initiatives to improve the overall sanitary situation and waste management system in the refugee camps are limited due to the lack of reliable data, and improper planning. This also reflects the situation in Bangladesh. Over a million Rohingya Muslims displaced from Myanmar to Bangladesh are sheltered in different camps in Cox’s Bazar in Chittagong Division with lack of basic services including safe drinking water, sanitation, and waste management.

Our scoping study will fill this gap by exploring the sanitary and waste management hazards and issues in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh by using participatory qualitative research methods. The research will uncover the power of Youth in the camps who can be considered agents of change in their communities and can help improve sanitation and the handling of waste in their areas. Moreover, the study will address the health issues related to the lack of waste management and improper sanitary conditions. The study will provide some recommendations to the government and non-government organizations for developing proper sanitary and waste management plans which will contribute to reduce public health risks in refugee camps in Bangladesh and elsewhere.