WHO Cox’s Bazar: Rohingya emergency crisis - Situation Report: September 2026

Overview

In September 2026, WHO and Health Sector partners continued delivering essential health services across Rohingya camps and host communities while addressing evolving public health risks. Disease surveillance remained robust, supporting the monitoring and response to priority diseases, including measles, dengue, cholera, and scabies. Dengue transmission showed a declining trend following the August peak, while immunization activities strengthened population immunity through routine vaccination and a successful preventive polio campaign. WHO supported Health Sector partners in sustaining emergency preparedness and response systems while strengthening health facility safety to improve readiness for public health threats. Persistent funding shortfalls remain a significant challenge, risking the continuity of health sector coordination, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response capacities, and the uninterrupted provision of essential health services.

Coordination and Leadership

WHO, as Health Sector lead, continued to coordinate the health response for Rohingya refugees and host communities, supporting partner alignment, strategic planning, resource prioritization, and evidence-based decision-making.

Key Updates

• The WHO-led Health Sector convened one Cox’s Bazar-level coordination meeting, 33 camp-level coordination meetings, and one Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) meeting in September 2026.
• Health partners were updated on the humanitarian situation, funding gaps and their impact, Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2026 implementation, JRP 2027 planning, disease surveillance, immunization, sexual and reproductive health, community health, mental health, and emergency preparedness and response activities.
• The Health Sector Information Management Team updated and maintained key information products, including the 4W dashboard, HeRAMS, training calendar, and other routine information products, providing partners with timely data and analysis to support evidence-based planning, coordination, and decision-making. These information products are accessible through the Rohingya Response Health Sector Portal. https://rohingyaresponse.org/sectors/coxs-bazar/health/