Reporting by Abdul Salam Haj Bakri; Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Children of Jabal al-Akrad and al-Turkmen, have suffered of displacement for more than three times, most of them have lost a father or a brother, or even a mother, some of them lost an arm or a leg or have deformations resulted of injuries.
Despite all the pain they suffer, they still look for fun and joy, and do not waste any chance for learning in so called schools managed by teachers of camps they live in.
In the beginning, people of Jabal al-Akrad and al-Turkmen were displaced by the shelling an bombing of Syrian regime, then the Russian air raid carried on the task to followed with land invasion by the Syrian regime, all that caused recurrent displacement for twice or three even four times for those who were in camps targeted by shelling at the Turkish boarders.
Teachers of the countryside of Latakia worked hard to ensure teaching the children as much as they can. They allocated some tents, which lack the minimum requirement to be a classroom.
Many children started the academic year at their villages, but continued in a tent in their first camp, then the Russian warplanes displaced them to reach to the second camp and the third classroom in a tent.
“We lost many students, some of were killed by the Russian and Syrian regime’s warplanes, some books were covered with blood of students, while other students left to work to help their families in covering the cost of living, Mohammed, the teacher say in pain.
He added that they do whatever they can to teach students, who were very keen to learn and absorb information they are given.
In regard to food, most children have left their villages with their families, leaving their fields of fruits and nuts and others, suffering of destitution which reflected on children’s food and nutrients, most of them they only can eat what they received from the aid and relief agencies.
Shadi, a child who lost his father in a cluster shelling of the Russian warplane, said that they saw a bag of potatoes in market few days ago but his mother was not able to buy it because she did not have SYP 50.
Shadi’s mother told Zaman Al Wasl about deprivation her children suffer of as they do not eat meat and other essential food for long time, all they eat what is provided in the food baskets.
Children of the countryside of Latakia suffer of homelessness as they left their houses, then they left their tents many times. They were forced to live outdoor many days till they find a shelter without covers or beds.
“floods entered our tents wetting everything, we slept without cover and we did not have fuel to keep my grandchildren warm”, Sheikh Abo Sotaif, an old man in his seventies described the suffering of winter in camp.
Sheik Abo Sitaif added that summer is not much better, as dust hurts children, besides sun and hot weather and there is no electricity to have some coolness.
Despite all that pain and lack of almost everything, children in camps steal moments of joy and play between raids, with hope that everything would be better.
It is estimated that 25 thousand people were displaced from villages of the countryside of Latakia, children make 50% of them. Many humanitarian organisations and institution try to cover their needs, but they do not have fund, which keep these people suffering of deprivation.
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