Burma Human Rights Network’s report: “We also have dreams” Quality of Life and Hope for the Future In interviewing refugees, BHRN asked several questions related to their quality of life and how they saw their future. Many of their answers showed how significantly the events of recent years had impacted their morale, but most retained some hope for the future. When asked to describe their current situation the vast majority of refugees gave a negative description of their lives in the camps. Their grievances ranged from day-to-day discomfort, food insecurity, dangers in the camps, and a sense that life cannot continue this way for them. The common dangers they listed included criminal activity in the camps and a distrust of the police assigned to protect them. A 27-year-old man told BHRN, “Though I felt safe earlier when the Bangladeshi Army was responsible here as the security for us, now the camp has become a fearful prison where we are helpless. Our situation is worse today than yesterday. The situation has become quite critical. We are afraid of the Bangladeshi police because they are collaborating with criminals against our safety and security. I think they are doing this so that we go back (to Burma) without any rights.” www.bhrn.org.uk 42