In this chapter of Sakena’s story, we return to Cox’s Bazar — a place where survival is measured in queues. Every morning, women like Sakena rise before dawn to stand in line for water, for food, for the small things that keep life going. These lines, long and winding, have become more than just systems of aid — they are places of quiet resilience, where mothers trade stories, laughter, and the strength to go on.

Sakena shares what daily life looks like in the world’s largest refugee camp — how she keeps her home clean, her children learning, and her faith intact, even when the waiting never ends. Her story turns the mundane act of standing in line into something sacred — a reminder that survival itself is a form of resistance.

📌What You’ll Hear in This Episode

01:19 The daily rhythm of life in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp30:11 How women sustain their families on limited aid47:57 Sakena’s memories of her husband and the home she lost01:07:37 The small rituals that keep dignity and hope alive

Why This Story Matters

Behind every ration line is a community of women who hold their families together. They wait for food, for safety, for answers — but they also wait with faith. “Lines That Feed Us” is not just about scarcity; it’s about how women like Sakena turn waiting into a shared act of care, endurance, and love.

The Archives Speaks is by The Refugee Archive

The Refugee Archive documents the oral histories of female heads of households — women who carry families through displacement. These stories are told with dignity, neutrality, and deep respect for the voices that have too often been left out of history.

Get full access to The Refugee Archive: Global Center for Displaced FHH at therefugeearchive.substack.com/subscribe