Three weeks on a park bench and a harsh winter ahead – Yasmin’s story

A few weeks ago our CEO, Justin, and Vikki from our media team went out to Lebanon to see how World Vision is helping the Syrian refugees arriving in their thousands across the border.

In one of the towns they visited they discovered little Yasmin and her family, just one of the many families who are struggling to find food, clothing and shelter. Here’s Vikki with Yasmin’s story:

(We’ve changed their names for their own protection)

By Vikki Meakin, Communications Officer, World Vision UK

For the last three weeks 4-year-old Yasmin’s home has been a park bench. She arrived here, in Bekaa valley in Lebanon, with her three older brothers, her mum and her dad when life in Syria got too dangerous.

Yasmin’s mum, Layla, says at first they could cope with the fighting, but as it intensified over the past months, they felt they had no choice but to leave. It was’t something Layla would have chosen, “Who wants to leave their country?” she asks. “Nobody.”

Yasmin didn’t want to leave either, but she says, “I don’t want to go back because there is shooting there.”

Before the fighting started Layla harvested tomatoes and olives but recently she became too scared to go outside to work in the fields and had to rely on her parents for money to buy groceries. Her husband, who is disabled and unable to work, talks with tears in his eyes about how frustrated he is at not being able to provide for his family.

For Yasmin and her brothers lessons at school were often stopped because of nearby bombing and the building was even shot at. Ahmad, 9, the oldest of the children, tells us he misses his school and he misses his friends; he hasn’t heard any news about how they’re doing.

The family’s final decision to leave Syria came when their neighbour’s house was attacked. Fearing they were next, the family fled with just the clothes on their back.

But life in Lebanon is not easy; while some refugees have been able to find modest accommodation with friends or erect a make-shift structure on rented land, Yasmin’s family haven’t been able to find shelter anywhere.

“All I want is shelter for my children,” says Layla, “I don’t care about anything else.”

Since they arrived, the family has mainly been sleeping at a local mosque, where they are given mattresses and blankets. It’s not open all the time though and they’ve had to spend the night in a train on display in the town centre. Layla is constantly looking for somewhere safe for her children to sleep. Many of the apartments they have seen are either too expensive or already full. They did find an empty garage but, with no money to make it suitable to live in, they had to abandon it.

During the day the family sits in the park with just a plastic steering wheel for the four children to play with. They left Syria in such a hurry that there was no time to pack. The thin clothes they are wearing is all they have. It’s hard to imagine how they will cope when the snow arrives.

“People are cold living in a house with a stove and blankets,” says Layla, “What about us? All I dream of is a home. I don’t dare to dream for more.”

Yasmin often sneezes and Layla knows her family isn’t healthy, but she struggles to find even a tissue to wipe her nose — a stark reminder of how little they have.

Getting a roof over their children’s head is a priority for Layla and Ahmed and they’re also constantly worried about finding food for them all to eat. Layla tells us the only food they can afford is a bit of bread for the children. As the family is not yet registered with the UN, it’s hard for them to get vouchers for food.

“My children are always by my side,” says Layla. “They ask me, ‘When are we going to have a home?’”

We’re working in Bekaa valley to support families arriving from Syria by providing hygiene kits, blankets, stoves and food vouchers. World Vision also runs Child Friendly Spaces, to give Syrian children a chance to learn and adjust to their new surroundings and learn to cope with the psychological trauma caused by their experiences.

Please help us to keep supporting the thousands of children and families crossing the border into Lebanon. Click here to donate.