EIGHT families, newly arrived from Myanmar, became on February 1 the final Rohingya refugees to receive a shelter kit from KS Relief’s initial shelter support program in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

In total KS Relief has now, in conjunction with the UN Migration Agency IOM, supported 880 people over the past two months with vital shelter materials.

The tarpaulins and other supplies, including ropes and bamboo, ensure the refugees have protection from the worst of the elements.

In addition, KS Relief has also provided 11,500 with the basic non-food items, such as cooking pots, blankets and other living equipment they needed to survive.

With rainy season rapidly approaching KS Relief and IOM are now focusing on providing  50,000 people with additional shelter materials to help them upgrade their living spaces.

But for new arrivals such as Jahida Begum, 35, and her five young daughters, the basic kit supported by KS Relief continues to make all the difference.

Jahida who was widowed after her husband died en-route to Malaysia after leaving Myanmar two years ago, was recognized by IOM staff as an extremely vulnerable case and given additional support to construct her shelter.

Her children and other young refugee children played in the shade as their parents and volunteers received the kits and prepared to move into their new homes.

“I am relieved to be here and will make the best of the situation. I feel better now we’ve got these things to help us live,” said Jahida.

“Now we will be able to have a proper sleep at night,” she said as watched IOM volunteers help construct her shelter in the new Balukhali extension site in Cox’s Bazar.