Mothers in crisis
Conflict in Syria and Iraq has caused huge levels of displacement as the crisis in both countries continues. With millions of children caught in a state of flux, without schooling and security, it often falls on their mothers to try and provide stability as best they can. We met two such women, Ghada and Enstar, who are doing their best to keep their family safe. Despite their difficult living conditions, these women are survivors and anchors for their families.
Since fleeing Syria over two years ago, Ghada has been living in Jordan with her two girls, Hiam and Rawan, and three boys, Abdel-Aziz, Ahmad and Aboudeh. Her husband, Mohamed, began working in Kuwait as a car mechanic to earn the income needed to provide for their basic needs, before the rest of the family was forced to flee Syria. With no end in sight to the Syrian conflict Ghada hopes that one day she and her children will be able to join her husband in Kuwait.
Before they left Syria, the family were on the move regularly to escape the fighting. They didn't realise that returning home would be impossible even after 2 years of waiting. Ghada explained,
“We used to think the crisis would end in no time, but it actually grew bigger and bigger.”
Moving around so much meant that for over a year, the children’s education was intermittent - which was unavoidable but something Ghada regrets, “There’s nothing I can do about it, but I do hope they will be able to continue their education now for good.”
Ghada knows the importance of education as she never finished school herself, dropping out after the 9th grade. However, she is determined to see her children get an education and as good a start in life as they can.
In Jordan, Ghada's school-aged children are able to go to school. Her 14 year-old daughter Hiam is particularly fond of school. During the summer break Hiam told her mother she was bored without it and even wished she could sleep at school. Her favourite subject is English.
World Vision provides catch-up classes for refugee children, so that they won’t fall behind in their Jordanian schools. While the Jordanian curriculum is no more challenging than Syria’s, there are new subjects like computers and practical science lessons to learn and many Syrian refugees, like Hiam and her siblings, are trying to make up for the gaps in their education.
Whilst her husband works in Kuwait, Ghada plays the role of a mother and father for her children. “The responsibility I have is tough, the father plays a big role in backing up a mother". Her wish for her children is to have the very best in their life and to have anything they ask for, "I just want to fulfil their dreams and wishes."
Experts currently estimate that of the 2.2 million people have been affected by the crisis in Iraq, with at least half of them being women and girls. The impact of the war on them is incalculable as a recent United Nations situation report states: "Women and girls have become the most vulnerable group affected by the crisis, facing severe human rights abuses, violations and humiliations. They are subject to gender-based violence, coerced into early marriages, overwhelmed by economic strife and psychologically scarred by loss."
Enstar, 28, is a mother of eight. When we visited their tent in an internally-displaced people’s camp near Erbil, northern Iraq, it was very cold and the small gas-fuelled heater in the middle struggled to heat the whole tent. For a mother like Enstar, who was up and about making sure all of us got a good share of the heat, the camp is one of the most well organised ones in the city, but the situation her family is in is far from easy.
The winter season, she said, is making the children become ill and the condition inside the tent is not a healthy environment for the family, or for the hundreds of other families also in the camp. Her 1-month-old baby, Khatsa, is tucked up safe and warm in the corner of the tent, oblivious to the dire situation she is in. Enstar tries to do her best to keep her protected. Her eyes mirror patience but are full of sadness. From time to time, she smiles wanly - showing grace in the midst of her family’s miserable condition. She is not alone.
World Vision's Syria Crisis Appeal is helping to provide hygiene kits, blankets and remedial education in Jordan to help mothers like Ghada care for her children. World Vision has also been able to distribute over 1,100 water tanks in three displaced people’s camps in northern Iraq, in an attempt to improve sanitation and health for families like Enstar's. You can help mothers like Ghada and Enstar by donating to our Syria Crisis Appeal »
*Ghada’s name has been changed to protect her identity and keep her safe.