A displaced mother in Myanmar rebuilds hope on her journey

“I am 33 years old and have been displaced in Myanmar with my family and daughters since the middle of 2021. When the soldiers came to our village, we were all scared. At midnight, we fled to a nearby monastery with no light because we were afraid that if we used the light, they would target us. We stayed in the dark the whole night,” said a young woman* displaced in Myanmar.

In February 2021, a military coup and the resulting conflicts plunged Myanmar into a severe humanitarian crisis, forever altering the lives of thousands of people.

“As the crowd was getting bigger, the monastery was no longer safe for us, we had to flee again.” Together with her mother and two daughters, she made her way to the village where some of their relatives lived.

“It was challenging for all of us to reach our relatives, we had no electricity and did not know how to contact them. What guided us was the twinkling light of the stars in the sky. We had to spend two nights and three days travelling. We felt so hungry and lonely,” she commented.

Rebuilding a life in the new community was not easy. “It was a big challenge to find a place to stay in the village. After discussions, the community arranged for us to set up a camp in the forest. However, I had no income as there was no available job in the camp, and the money I had saved was not enough to support the whole family. I hated my situation, without food, friends, clothes to wear, and water to drink. I felt very sad when I heard that our houses in our village were burnt down. At that time, no more peace, warmth, or forgiveness could come out of my mind.”

They spent eight months in the camp before finally moving to her aunt’s house, where they found a safer refuge. “The support I received from the local community gave me the energy to keep moving forward. Now, we encourage each other in the camp. We share what we have. I feel like part of a big family in the camp, together with the host community.”

She serves as a volunteer teacher, offering children the opportunity to continue their education, which would otherwise be severely compromised by the conflict and constant displacement. “Sharing knowledge with students helps me forget my pain and the loneliness of living in displacement. On the other hand, I am very happy that the students can continue their education.”

“I wish this crisis would end very soon and we could live in peace with a brighter future, and I wish to go home to my village,” she concluded.

*The name is not mentioned to protect the identity of the woman.

*This article was originally published by JRS Asia Pacific.