Recollections of a Syrian dentist from Idlib as told to MedGlobal’s Dr. Tayseer Alkarim.
Ramadan is the month which always brought peace, unity, love, and care for the most vulnerable ones. This year, it is becoming tough on those who fled from blind airstrikes on civilians, infrastructure, humanitarian aid, and service provision.
An aggressive attack led by #Russia and the #Syrian regime has escalated and left nothing but long-lasting horrific disasters. With the most intensive wave of violence in over a year, thousands of IDPs (Internally Displaced Peoples) are forced into unimaginable circumstances. People can’t be more lost, hesitant, confused, uncertain, and terrified.
Leaving little hope and faith in the international community, lives have been demolished for those who never thought to leave their homes in northern Syria. Those who survived the scarce resources, lack of electricity, fuel, water, education, economic crisis, bombs, danger, military groups, and restricted humanitarian aid, just to stay in their homes are now confronted with an urgency to leave.
OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) reports that approximately 180,000 people have been displaced between April 29 and May 9. Those add to the 150,000 IDPs who fled between February and April. Many of them have been displaced multiple times previously. 15 health facilities, 16 schools, 3 IDP camps were targeted in attacks. And nothing so far can indicate any de-escalation of violence.
People just like us, with hopes, dreams, and memories are now forced to flee to what they hope to be a safer refuge. All their dreams and aspirations have now been reduced to a roof over their heads.
Someone who used to live in the safest land on the planet is now stunned at what has come of the once peaceful place they lovingly called home. They are still denying that they are now homeless, and their wonderful homes are now a pile of rubble. They are still attempting to realize how they had to leave what they spent decades to gain so abruptly. When will this all come to an end? And why do we have to encounter such horrendous events? These are questions refugees ask.
Today, nothing can convince a displaced #Syrian child that someone cares. Not after he was left to face fear, loss, and pain that comes from displacement, alone. What meaning does the world give kids that would never see their parents again? No one to give them their goodnight kiss and read them their bedtime stories. For them, the world is now empty. All the conferences, reports, meetings, political arguments, even the shelling waves are now soundless. The only voice they can hear now is their loved ones from whom they were separated – maybe forever.
Among all the sad details, what is the most striking, is how such a crisis has become normalized. A report we read during our lunch break or while we are commuting to our jobs, or maybe before going to sleep. More than 300,000 human-beings have been displaced in northern Syria since February 2019. They are not numbers, they are humans just like us.
Syria is not the only place in the world where humanity is being tested, but it is definitely one of its toughest tests. Let us lend a hand when we can and keep them in our prayers. It is the time to change something, to not take for granted what we have. We need to accept and support others when we can and be human enough to humanize them.
Please support our emergency missions to support Syrian refugees. Donate or volunteer today!