Syria crisis: “The most painful thing”

The past few weeks have seen over 30,000 Syrians cross the eastern border of Lebanon following the escalation of violence in Damascus.

On a recent trip to visit some of the families displaced by the violence, we heard reports that the roads out of Damascus had been closed, meaning only those who are well connected now have any chance of escaping the violence.

Impossible to feel safe

Fayez, a Palestinian refugee who fled Syria with his wife and seven children, told us that “driving from Damascus was very risky”.

“The situation was not any better on the way to the border,” he continued, “so I was driving as fast as possible because I knew my family and I wouldn’t be safe until we arrived in Lebanon.”

“When the bombing increased,” said his wife Amal, “we decided to leave. My little girl Taline would sleep with her hands over her ears to avoid hearing the shooting.

“My husband’s father, sisters and brothers are still in Damascus and we’re worried about them. Everyone wants to feel safe but it’s impossible in any area inside Syria.”

No assistance

All of the families we talked to told us that nobody inside Syria was receiving any humanitarian assistance.

“No assistance has been provided in the past six months,” said Rafaat from Homs. Amal went on to explain that “neighbours were helping each other with food for kids, milk, diapers and other things.”

Cramped conditions

For many of the families staying in Lebanon, housing remains a major concern.

“We don’t know how long we will stay,” says Fayez. “We are 23 persons here living in two small rooms.”

Of the 23 people living in two rooms, 13 are children, according to Fayez.

All of these children have now been registered with Save the Children and will begin participating in our child-friendly spaces and remedial classes early next week.

“The most painful thing in the world is being unable to provide my children with a place to play and feel safe,” said Fayez.

We’re doing all we can to make sure that this is one thing Fayez does not need to worry about.

We’re setting up safe places to play, providing education to refugee children, distributing essential items, and making sure that families with babies and young children have the supplies they need.

Please donate so we can continue to support vulnerable children caught in this crisis