Waiting to return home
By Elias Abu Ata, World Vision Communicator, Jordan
Eight-year-old Qamar isn’t sure what she wants to be when she grows up. She’s trying to decide between becoming a doctor, so she can cure people who ask for her help, or a tailor, so she can sew dresses for her toys.
“I love to play in school and enjoy the breaks between classes. My favourite subjects are Arabic and maths. I am friends with Jordanians at school and there are two Syrians too. My wish is to obtain full marks and have my name written among the distinctive students.”
For the last two years, Qamar’s family have been living in Jordan, after they fled to escape fighting in Syria. Their first stop was Za’atari Refugee Camp, before moving on to two other houses, and finally settling in their current building. She and her siblings are trying to adjust to a new life.
Their house is dark, with no sunlight, no carpet and just a fan to keep them cool. There are two sofas in the lounge, and mattresses on the floor. Three months ago their landlord put the rent up without explaining why.
At the moment, the only income the family has is from mum Rajaa’s work, selling spinach and chopped 'mulukhiyah' - a middle eastern vegetable. She earns just four Jordanian Dinars a day (approximately £3.50) – whilst their rent is the equivalent of £141 a month, with electricity and water bills on top.
It’s a struggle to put enough food on the table each day.
“My fridge no longer has much food inside. We only buy vegetables, but our wish is to buy beef," Rajaa said. “We haven’t had chicken for two months and have never had beef. We want to get full. Fruits and vegetables are all we can get.”
The family also finds it difficult to get hold of the medicine they need. Rajaa’s husband, Fawaz, has diabetes, high blood pressure and a bad back, making it difficult for him to move.
In Syria, the family used to own a four bedroom house, but when it was hit by a mortar shell, trapping them inside, they realised it was time to leave.
“I was playing on a rocking chair when a sniper arrived in the area. There was a big hole in our house, caused by the fighting, which we managed to escape through,” Qamar explained.
While Qamar is adjusting as best as she can to her new life, her 21-year-old brother, Mohamed, barely speaks. He suffers from a speech disorder and was unable to finish school. This has been difficult for Rajaa.
“The future of our children is lost, just like Mohamed’s. As for the girls, I just want their future to be better since they cannot do anything now.”
Despite their impoverished situation, Rajaa’s family have been able to make a few basic improvements to their accommodation.
“We installed a new water tank after fixing it, so we can shower with hot water. But the ceiling leaks, so in the winter I clean it every night with a mop.”
No matter how comfortable they make their house though, it can never be home.
“My wish is to return back home. My wish for my children is to have us all gathered in our home country and be at our best,” says Rajaa.
Qamar, who was five when she left Syria, agrees.
“I prefer the old house because it is in my home country. When I was in Syria, I was never afraid of anything. I want to return to Syria once the war and shooting is over. I want to draw a flower and a house in which my family can live."
Since the fighting started in Syria more than four years ago, nearly four million people have fled to countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. Meanwhile more than seven million people remain displaced within Syria and three million in Iraq.
World Vision is responding to the Syrian crisis in Jordan, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Approximately two million refugees, internally displaced people and vulnerable host community members have been assisted through interventions including food, water, sanitation, health, child-friendly spaces and remedial education. Visit www.worldvision.org.uk/syria to find out more.