Burned to the ground
When the conflict reached Fatma’s village, she fled to Kerinding II with her son and four daughters. “I will never forget the night in January 2003 when our village was attacked,” says Fatma, “They were shooting and burning houses and one of them was ours.
“The next morning they came back and looted all the cattle and everything that belonged to the villagers.
Life before war
Fatma and her family lived comfortably before the conflict. They owned animals and land for farming.
They had also stocked enough food to last the entire family for two years. Today, they have nothing.
“Our life has changed completely. The war that brought us this trouble is still going on.”
Surrounded by militia
It is too dangerous for Fatma to return home, “Our village is just 15 km away from Kerinding II but we cannot even visit. We are angry because we cannot go back to our home.
“Armed militia are everywhere around us. My family cannot even go 1,000 metres away from camp to collect firewood and grass.”
Inside the camp
IR provides families in Kerinding II with food, plastic sheeting, soap, jerry cans and materials to build traditionally constructed homes. We also run a school and health clinic in the camp.
“I am almost completely blind and cannot work,” explains Fatma, “Our lives depend on Islamic Relief. We are happy because we are better taken care of than people in other camps. We receive extra soap, clothes, shoes and other items.”
Fatma is still hopeful for her family’s future. “I would like my children to be educated and go on to help people, like Islamic Relief’s aid workers have been doing.”