By: RO Maung Shwe
Hamida Khatun, a 32-year-old woman, is no stranger to hardship. Born in Morikkom Village, Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar, she is the third daughter of Mohammad Hosson and Semon Khatun. Her journey is one of resilience in the face of poverty, disability, and loss.
“I come from a low-income family,” shares Hamida. Her father was a daily laborer and farmer who cultivated chilies, nuts, and rice on the mountain farms of Rakhine State. Hamida remembers her father as the hardest-working person she has ever known. “He did physically demanding work every day to support us,” she says.
Hamida’s family of nine—her parents and seven daughters—faced financial challenges throughout her childhood. In Myanmar, cultural practices like paying a dowry made life even harder for families with multiple daughters. “My parents worked tirelessly, but it was never enough,” she recalls.
Born with a physical disability, Hamida’s condition posed additional financial and emotional challenges for her family. “My parents did everything they could to seek treatment for me in Myanmar,” she says. Unfortunately, they could not afford the cost of proper medical care or take her to Bangladesh, where better treatment options were available.
As Hamida grew older, her disability and her family’s economic struggles delayed her marriage prospects. Eventually, her parents arranged her marriage in Bangladesh, where the family believed her future might be more secure. She married a 60-year-old Rohingya man, Abdu Jolil, who had fled Myanmar in 1991 to escape government persecution.
However, life did not become easier for Hamida. “After my marriage, I moved to Bangladesh and lived with my husband, while my parents remained in Myanmar,” she shares. Her marriage lasted only five years before her husband passed away from non-communicable diseases, including diabetes.
Widowed and childless, Hamida’s life took another difficult turn. “It’s been over four years since my husband passed away,” she says. Her elderly parents, still in Myanmar, are unable to provide any support. “They rely on charity themselves, so I cannot ask them for help,” Hamida explains.
Living alone in a small tent built by her late husband, Hamida survives entirely on humanitarian aid. Despite her hardships, she acknowledges the small acts of kindness she receives. “There are people who help me during Ramadan and Eid,” she says. “Their encouragement gives me strength to carry on.”
Hamida’s story is a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by women with disabilities in refugee communities. Her resilience, despite overwhelming challenges, highlights the importance of continued support for vulnerable individuals like her.
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