Engineering skills are always in demand, but especially in the world’s largest refugee camp. In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, civil engineer and RedR Australia roster member Mathieu is helping to build shelter solutions for refugees and neighbouring communities.

Mathieu has been tasked with establishing Habitat for Humanity in Cox’s Bazar, which is a particularly challenging setting in the world. He’s halfway through a one-year deployment with Habitat for Humanity—a global non-profit working in 70 countries to provide sustainable housing for communities in need.

Mathieu is a civil engineer and urban planner with more than a decade of humanitarian experience across Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean and West Africa. Through his deployment with Habitat for Humanity, he’s sharing his shelter skills and experience with Rohingya families and host communities.

Cox’s Bazar is home to the biggest refugee camp in the world, and the challenges are compounded.

“All camps in the world are different,” explains Mathieu. “Nearly one million people live in the Cox’s Bazar camps and in some areas the population density exceeds that of Dhaka, the capital, which is already very dense. In 2018, it used to take hours to reach households in some parts.

“The hilly landscape is covered by temporary shelters as far as the eye can see. Walking in the narrow muddy paths of the camps, between the bamboo shelters, there are children running around everywhere. Many of them are playing with bamboo sticks or carrying goods and jerricans full of water. 

There are also challenges with water and sanitation. “Sometimes, it doesn’t smell great, as some households build their own sanitation on top of open drains,” Mathieu says. 

Cox's Bazar, the largest refugee camp in the world, is home to nearly one million Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

Due to government regulations, organisations are only allowed to use bamboo and tarpaulin to build shelters in the camps. So as part of Mathieu’s role, he provides families with advice on how to increase the lifespan of their bamboo shelters. 

“I regularly inspect shelters. I talk with households about their challenges with access to materials, building techniques and designs.”

He also uses his extensive and varied experience to innovate new housing solutions for Rohingya refugees and host communities. 

“I’ve been able to pick up new ideas and techniques throughout my career. For example, I experimented with bamboo constructions in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan, and I worked in the Pacific rebuilding shelters with local materials and techniques.” 

This experience has deeply influenced Mathieu’s proposed shelter strategy for Habitat for Humanity in Cox’s Bazar. 

“I am trying to develop construction activities that are a bit different—that are more dignified and people-focused, and that could potentially create a source of income for refugees,” he says.

Mathieu has hired local staff in Cox’s Bazar and is working to establish shelter and WASH projects that help to improve living conditions, rebuild livelihoods and reinforce the local economy. He hopes this will help to build the resilience of both refugee and host communities.

“This is quite different from other agencies’ approaches,” Mathieu notes. “I want to use innovation in livelihoods to make a meaningful difference.”

In partnership with World Vision, Habitat for Humanity also rebuilt 100 shelters for families who lost their shelters in the fire that broke out in March earlier this year.

Through his experience in shelter management, Mathieu is helping to innovate housing solutions for both refugees and the local population.

Mathieu has dedicated his career to supporting communities affected by disaster and conflict. 
“I love what I do, despite the tremendous challenges we face here every day and the lack of a clear long-term solution for the Rohingya people,” Mathieu says. 

“Solidarity between people is vital to make life meaningful and strengthen communities. There are so many refugees in the world today, so it is essential that people, communities and states come together to provide assistance and sustainable solutions to refugee crises.

“People fleeing their homes leave everything behind, including houses, jobs and businesses. They are extremely vulnerable, so they need humanitarian assistance quickly.” 

RedR Australia is a leading international humanitarian response agency that selects, trains and deploys technical specialists around the world. RedR Australia maintains a roster of nearly 1,000 technical specialists across a range of skill profiles. Learn more about RedR Australia’s work and how you could lend your skills to help communities plan, prepare, rebuild and recover before, during and after crises and conflict.