Zalissa is a 33-year-old mother of six from a rural community in Burkina Faso. She has been internally displaced for one year after armed violence forced her family to flee their village.
Forced to flee
“The atrocities committed by the armed groups led us to take refuge here in this camp,” Zalissa explains. Armed men came to her village, killing many people and forcing families to run for their lives.
Zalissa and her family first sought safety in a nearby rural community, but life there was extremely difficult. “A large tin of tomatoes filled with cereal cost 3,000 CFA francs (approximately $8),” she says. “These living conditions prompted us to leave.”
When they tried to move again, they were stopped by armed groups. “On the day we left, the armed groups beat us on the way and took away all our belongings – clothes, mobile phones, kitchen utensils,” Zalissa says. “They even poured out the rice porridge we had prepared for the children.”
She remembers how the children cried from hunger. “They told us to go and scrape the porridge for them. They said they only feel sorry for the children. But if we’re not careful, they’ll kill us.”
A journey with nothing
Zalissa says they were left with almost nothing. “We didn’t eat or drink from morning until night,” she explains. “They left us with just one cart to transport the many children who were with us.”
It took two days of walking to reach the camp. “When we arrived in the next rural commune, it was also difficult to live because we couldn’t even find firewood to cook with. We lived on tree leaves.”
Life before assistance
In the first days after arriving at the camp, life was extremely hard. “We were short of everything,” Zalissa says. “We were sorting bags in the street to sell.”
With no income and few resources, difficult decisions followed. “Due to a lack of resources, we took all our children out of school.”
Finding safety and privacy
Today, Zalissa says life feels more stable. “We now have peace of mind because we can no longer hear the crackling of weapons.”
With support from HELP and ShelterBox, her family received a shelter and essential household items. “Our worries about shelter and household items have been resolved,” she says.
For Zalissa, the shelter has been the most important support. “Honestly, it’s the shelter, because it’s allowed me to protect my privacy,” she explains.
She also highlights the importance of other items. “The blankets protect us from the cold and from illnesses such as bronchitis, coughs, malaria and dengue fever.”
Hoping for a better tomorrow
Zalissa says the assistance has improved her family’s daily life. “All the aid has improved our living conditions,” she says. “The kitchen utensils also allow us to eat healthily.”
Despite everything she has been through, Zalissa remains hopeful. “I would like to thank HELP and ShelterBox for their benevolence, while remaining hopeful that tomorrow will be better.”
Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, ShelterBox works with communities to support people who have been forced to flee, ensuring women are actively involved in the response. Women take part in project committees, helping to shape targeting and share feedback, creating safer spaces for concerns to be raised.
We also recognise and build on women’s existing skills in shelter construction and design, from preparing materials to weaving components for emergency shelters, supporting dignity, leadership and greater participation in community life.
Together, we can protect and empower the most vulnerable as they navigate life on the frontlines of crisis.
Become a regular giver