“The floor of our shelter was damaged, so we laid plastic sheets on the ground where we slept. The roof leaked and the walls had holes. We dreaded going to sleep. It was really tough,” says mother-of-three Daw, who faced dire living conditions at Sin Tet Maw camp in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
She and her family have been living in the overcrowded, dilapidated camp since communal conflict flared in 2012. Their misery deepened every rainy season as the damaged shelters did little to protect them from the elements. But this year was different. Daw’s family is one of 175 who have moved into more substantial shelters built by Islamic Relief. Constructed from materials designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, these shelters provide families with a safe and comfortable place to live.
“Now that our shelter problem has been addressed, we’re prepared for the monsoon and I can focus my energy in creating a better life for my family. I venture out of the camp and look for any work available, like working in farms or doing domestic labour in the nearby village.”