Geological and soil engineering properties of shallow landslides occurring in the Kutupalong Rohingya Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Abstract The Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN), historically known as ‘Rohingya’ who fled the 2017 ethnic atrocities and genocide in Northern Rakhine State of Myanmar, took shelter Cox’s Bazar District Bangladesh. camp network, Kutupalong Rohingya Camp (KRC), is situated tectonically active tertiary hilly terrain. KRC has been experiencing hydrometeorological hazards, where landslides are frequent. This study investigated slopes’ geological condition, engineering properties human interventions, which influence landslides. exposed slopes were relatively high (> 10 m) steep ranging from 40° to 60° that have numerous polygonal tension cracks fissures. From geotechnical aspects, there three successive units slope materials: (1) residual soils sandy silt with clay, (2) highly weathered silty sandstones (3) shale/clay fine sand intercalations at bottom slopes. Field observations revealed most failures occurred soil sandstone units. a bulk density 1.49–1.97 g/cm 3 , liquid limit 25–48%, plasticity index 5–16% an undrained shear strength 23–46 kPa. 1.44–1.94 internal friction angle 34°–40° cohesion 0.5–13 mineralogical composition determined by X-ray diffraction shows low clay mineral content, does not affect However, geometry, strain softening torrential rainfall accompanied anthropogenic factors cause every year. will help take proper mitigation preparedness measures for protection area surroundings.