SOOHÊR EL- IDLIBÎ

Idlib – War brings only destruction and pain with it. 60-year-old Safiya El-Muhammed has lost everything, including her children, village, and property due to the war in Syria. Since she lost her two children in war, she has looked after her three grandchildren with disabilities alone in a refugee camp, where people cannot meet even their most vital needs. “What hurts me most is that my three grandchildren are left orphans,” she told us.

“They are innocent”

Speaking about her struggle to survive in the camp, she said, “My biggest regret is that my three grandchildren lost their childhood due to this war, they could not see their parents, and most importantly, they have to live in this camp despite their disability. I cannot offer them a good life because I am weak and desperate. As adults, we can endure all difficulties, all kinds of conditions but they are innocent children. Why can't they live like other children all over the world?”

Her two children died in a bombardment

About two and half years ago, Safiya El-Muhamed had to migrate from a village in the south of Idlib to the Harbunşê Camp in Idlib. “I was living with my daughter and son but they died in a bombardment. After they died, I had to take care of their disabled children. I look after two deaf-mute children of my son and my daughter’s child, who suffers from epilepsy. This war has taken away everything beautiful in our life and left diseases and poverty in the camps.”

She suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes

Stating that she has struggled to survive in the camp with her three grandchildren with the support of some NGOs, Safiya El-Muhamed said, “Every day, I go out with my three grandchildren to collect something left by the flood in order to stay warm in the tent. Many times our tent was destroyed by the rainwater and I rebuilt it. I suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes and have difficulties keeping my expensive medicines dry. Sometimes, I barely walk due to my diseases.”

“I buried my children myself”

Speaking about the worst day in her life, Safiya El-Muhamed said, “My worst day was when I had to bury my children myself. And then I have to live with the pain of losing them. No mother or woman should face what I have faced. For this reason, projects should be developed for women, who lost their husbands. I feel like we have lost the respect and dignity that we tried to protect before because we are living in a very difficult condition and chaos.  Now we can only struggle to find a job and a piece of bread. Now, everything is very expensive and we can only eat bread. We cannot reach any aid organizations anymore. No one cares what people face.”