International Relief Teams

On the far east side of Tijuana, you’ll find street upon street of undeveloped, haphazard shelters. Half-finished cinder block structures stand alongside makeshift huts, their walls composed of discarded wooden pallets and zinc metal sheeting. Waterproof tarps keep the rain out (mostly) in addition to offering a hiding place from the sun. Unfortunately, managing the dust is another story as paint-peeled sedans creep through dirt roads throughout the day. Neighborhood residents often burn their trash, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. The smell of melting plastic is a common occurrence, hardly noticed by anyone. It was over a year ago when a next-door neighbor carried his trash out to the burn pile and kindled a small flame. It was a routine chore done so many times before. However, on this occasion, the fire greedily crept outside its designated boundaries. It made its way into one house, then another...