As conflict continues to rage in Syria, up to 9.3 million people inside the country need urgent humanitarian assistance. Around 2.9 million have fled the country, and now face uncertain futures as refugees. Islamic Relief shares the stories of nine people caught up in the violence.
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- “My wish is to walk again and play with my friends in our village.” Yousef*, 12, was shot in the foot by a sniper whilst playing outside his home in north western Syria. He dreams of a life without fear for his six brothers and sisters, and the other children of Syria for whom violence is an unrelenting nightmare. (*Name changed for protection purposes)
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- “We have no house, no water, no electricity – and we have lost our livestock.” The home of Um Jassem, in Hama, was destroyed by a bomb. Now, she and her family are amongst some 6.5 million people estimated to be displaced within Syria. The family of eleven share a tent in Hibat Allah camp, Idleb, and do not know when they will be able to return home.
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- “Every time we heard an airplane, everyone started to cry and scream.” Um Hussein and her seven children fled their village when the barrel bombs fell, arriving at Zaatari camp with just the clothes they stood in. Islamic Relief provided the family with basic essentials including a food parcel, blankets and mattresses – but, without an income, they need much more.
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- “We lost our possessions. Only our dreams remain.” Mother-of-seven Um AbedAllah is from Aleppo, scene of some of the fiercest fighting in war-torn Syria. Since fleeing her home three years ago, she and her family have been living in a camp. In a country in which many children have seen their lives turned upside-down by conflict, Um AbedAllah worries most about her grandchildren.
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- “I have nothing [in Syria] to return to.” After her son and pregnant daughter were killed, Um Mohamed fled with her grandchildren to Lebanon. When they arrived, Um Mohamed sold tissues in the street to pay for rent and food – but she could not earn enough money to make ends meet. She was forced to take her family to a camp, where they have lived ever since.
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- “We cannot find a safe place for our children to grow up.” Father-of-five Abu Mahmoud, 38, and his family have lost everything in Syria’s brutal conflict. After their Hama home was destroyed, they fled to Turkey. Abu Mahmoud and his family now face an uncertain future as refugees. Access to food and health services is difficult, and the camps are over-crowded, he says.
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- “I have no-one but God.” Originally from Tunisia, Um Shadi, 56, moved to Syria when she married. Since her husband died, before the war began, Um Shadi has been the sole provider for her five children – and she has no relatives to help her. She and her children live in fear, and hunger is a daily reality. They have no money to enable them to leave the country.
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- “We risked death trying to reach a safe place.” Syria’s unrelenting conflict has cost Um Eyad one daughter and four sons. She and her husband, who are both in their 70s, are living in Hibat Allah camp, near the border with Turkey. With four disabled children to care for, they dream of returning home. She says there is no electricity in the camp, no clean water, and not enough shelter and food.
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- “My house was destroyed. I’ve nowhere to go.” Fifteen children in Um Ahmed’s family were orphaned the day their village was attacked. Um Ahmed, 60, is now guardian to her grandchildren. They fled to Hibat Allah camp, in Syria, where the family face hardships without an income, proper shelter, or access to education. Um Ahmed says it is not fair that the children are living in fear and despair.
Learn more about how Syria’s brutal conflict has left vulnerable people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
Please support our work to help the people of Syria: donate to our Syria Crisis Appeal today.
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