Poonam Masih, TwoCircles.net
Ameena Khatoon is a mother of three who lives in a small refugee camp at Kanchankunj near Okhla’s Kalindikunj in Delhi. She collects garbage and earns Rs 200-300 a day, just enough to feed her daughters. Her story reflects the hardship faced by countless Rohingya refugees who have fled violence in Myanmar, only to face a life of struggle and survival in a foreign land.
Ameena came to Delhi in 2012 after the death of her husband, who passed away while they were fleeing their home country. “My husband died in 2012, when we were fleeing our country. I have not seen him since the last time we were together,” she said with a heavy heart. Now, she is the sole breadwinner for her children, living in a tiny wooden hut in the camp.
The settlement, which consists of about 35 wooden huts, is overcrowded, and the living conditions are harsh. People here live in narrow, stifling lanes without basic amenities such as electricity or running water.
Like the others in the camp, Amina’s hut is poorly constructed. It offers little protection. “There is no electricity or water facility in this house. The situation is such that we yearn for drinking water,” she said, while describing her daily struggles.
Despite these hardships, Ameena remains determined to provide for her daughters. “I do whatever I can to raise my children,” she says. “I earn so little that it is difficult to survive.”
While Ameena does her best to ensure a better future for her daughters, she acknowledges the grim reality of their lives. “We are very unfortunate; we were driven out of our country. We got shelter here, but life is like that of insects,” she says.
The situation of the refugees in this camp is far from unique. Many of the other women in the camp are also raising their children by collecting garbage. About 15 widows live in this settlement, all struggling to make ends meet.
The camp’s residents are isolated. Many of them are unaware of the political discourse surrounding their situation. When asked if they feel they are being used for political gains ahead of the upcoming elections in the city, she, accompanied by others, said, “We do not know anything about the politics. We just have our refugee ID cards, and with them, we want to live a peaceful life.”
Another woman dweller of the camp explained, “The Delhi Jal Board tanker comes only at certain times during the day, and it is never enough. We have to store water in whatever containers we have.” It’s a daily battle for these women, who have to carry water from the tanker, often battling for space in their already overcrowded living space.
Taslima, who had managed to turn her small wooden hut into a two-story structure using bamboo and thin planks, said despite the difficulties, she has to live in inhuman conditions. “What can we do? The children have grown up, and there is no space. I sleep on the floor while they sleep upstairs,” she said. The lack of space and privacy is a constant challenge for families like hers.
She also explained how the changing seasons exacerbate the living conditions. “There is no air in the house in the summers. In the rainy season, water gets inside, making it impossible to go to the bathroom. It is very difficult,” she said.
Perhaps the most vulnerable in the camp are the elderly. Iqbal Hussain, 82, runs a small vegetable shop by the roadside. He is one of the many elderly refugees who face daily challenges due to the lack of basic facilities. “We do not have basic facilities,” he said. “We have to go outside to attend nature’s call. We are scared to do so, especially at my age. I am afraid I might fall. But we have no choice but to survive as best as we can.”
The plight of the Rohingya refugees in Delhi reflects the harsh realities faced by displaced people around the world. Despite the political rhetoric surrounding their presence in India, the refugees themselves are simply trying to survive. For Ameena, Taslima, Iqbal and countless others, their lives are not defined by the political narratives that surround them, but by their struggle to meet basic needs and provide a better future for their children.
All photos by the author.